Fusion proteins and methods for stimulating plant growth, protecting plants from pathogens, and immobilizing Bacillus spores on plant roots

ABSTRACT

The present invention is generally directed to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a  Bacillus cereus  family member. The invention also relates to recombinant  Bacillus cereus  family members expressing such fusion proteins, formulations containing the recombinant  Bacillus cereus  family members expressing the fusion proteins. Methods for stimulating plant growth and for protecting plants from pathogens by applying the recombinant  Bacillus cereus  family members or the formulations to plants or a plant growth medium are also described. The invention also relates to methods for immobilizing spores of a recombinant  Bacillus cereus  family member expressing a fusion protein on plant roots.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/414,050, filed on Jan. 24, 2017, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/213,525, filed on Mar. 14, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,573,980, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/799,262, filed on Mar. 15, 2013. Each of the above-cited applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. The invention also relates to recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing such fusion proteins, formulations containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing the fusion proteins, and methods for stimulating plant growth and for protecting plants from pathogens by applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members or the formulations to plants or a plant growth medium. The invention also relates to methods for immobilizing spores of a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein on plant roots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Within the zone surrounding a plant's roots is a region called the rhizosphere. In the rhizosphere, bacteria, fungi, and other organisms compete for nutrients and for binding to the root structures of the plant. Both detrimental and beneficial bacteria and fungi can occupy the rhizosphere. The bacteria, fungi, and the root system of the plant can all be influenced by the actions of peptides, enzymes, and other proteins in the rhizosphere. Augmentation of soil or treatment of plants with certain of these peptides, enzymes, or other proteins would have beneficial effects on the overall populations of beneficial soil bacteria and fungi, create a healthier overall soil environment for plant growth, improve plant growth, and provide for the protection of plants against certain bacterial and fungal pathogens. However, previous attempts to introduce peptides, enzymes, and other proteins into soil to induce such beneficial effects on plants have been hampered by the low survival of enzymes, proteins, and peptides in soil. Additionally, the prevalence of proteases naturally present in the soil leads to degradation of the proteins in the soil. The environment around the roots of a plant (the rhizosphere) is a unique mixture of bacteria, fungi, nutrients, and roots that has different qualities than that of native soil. The symbiotic relationship between these organisms is unique, and could be altered for the better with inclusion of exogenous proteins. The high concentration of fungi and bacteria in the rhizosphere causes even greater degradation of proteins due to abnormally high levels of proteases and other elements detrimental to proteins in the soil. In addition, enzymes and other proteins introduced into soil can dissipate away from plant roots quickly.

Thus, there exists a need in the art for a method for effectively delivering peptides, enzymes, and other proteins to plant root systems and for extending the period of time during which such molecules remain active. Furthermore, there exists a need in the art for a method of selectively targeting such peptides, enzymes, and proteins to the rhizosphere and to plant roots in particular.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide and a targeting sequence. The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a peptide hormone, a non-hormone peptide, or an enzyme involved in the production of a plant growth stimulating compound.

In another aspect, the present invention relates to fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen and a targeting sequence.

The present invention is also directed to fusion proteins comprising at least one root binding protein or peptide and a targeting sequence.

In any of the fusion proteins, the targeting sequence can be:

-   -   (a) a targeting sequence comprising an amino acid sequence         having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ         ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at         least about 54%;     -   (b) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID         NO: 1;     -   (c) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID         NO: 1;     -   (d) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 1;     -   (e) an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 2;     -   (f) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID         NO: 3;     -   (g) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID         NO: 3;     -   (h) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 3;     -   (i) an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 4;     -   (j) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-38 of SEQ ID         NO: 5;     -   (k) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 23-38 of SEQ ID         NO: 5;     -   (l) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 5;     -   (m) an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 6;     -   (n) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-28 of SEQ ID         NO: 7;     -   (o) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 13-28 of SEQ ID         NO: 7;     -   (p) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7;     -   (q) an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 8;     -   (r) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID         NO: 9;     -   (s) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID         NO: 9;     -   (t) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO. 9;     -   (u) an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO. 10;     -   (v) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID         NO:11;     -   (w) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 11;     -   (x) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 11;     -   (y) an amino acid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 12;     -   (z) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 13;     -   (aa) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 13;     -   (ab) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:13;     -   (ac) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:14;     -   (ad) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID         NO: 15;     -   (ae) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID         NO: 15;     -   (af) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:15;     -   (ag) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:16;     -   (ah) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID         NO: 17;     -   (ai) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID         NO: 17;     -   (aj) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:17;     -   (ak) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:18;     -   (al) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 19;     -   (am) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 19;     -   (an) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:19;     -   (ao) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:20;     -   (ap) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 21;     -   (aq) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 21;     -   (ar) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:21;     -   (as) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:22;     -   (at) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID         NO: 23;     -   (au) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID         NO: 23;     -   (av) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:23;     -   (aw) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:24;     -   (ax) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID         NO: 25;     -   (ay) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID         NO: 25;     -   (az) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:25;     -   (ba) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:26;     -   (bb) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-30 of SEQ ID         NO: 27;     -   (bc) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID         NO: 27;     -   (bd) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:27;     -   (be) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:28;     -   (bf) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 29;     -   (bg) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID         NO: 29;     -   (bh) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:29;     -   (bi) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:30;     -   (bj) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID         NO: 31;     -   (bk) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID         NO: 31;     -   (bl) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:31;     -   (bm) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:32;     -   (bn) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-15 of SEQ ID         NO: 33;     -   (bo) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:33;     -   (bp) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:34;     -   (bq) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-16 of SEQ ID         NO: 35;     -   (br) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:35; or     -   (bs) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:36.

In other aspects, the invention relates to a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member that expresses any of the fusion proteins.

In yet other aspects, the invention is directed to formulations comprising any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

The present invention also relates to a method for stimulating plant growth. The method comprises introducing into a plant growth medium any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, or any of the formulations comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide. Alternatively, the method comprises applying to foliage of a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, or any of the formulations comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide. The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for stimulating plant growth. The method comprises introducing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein into a plant growth medium or applying a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein to foliage of a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant. The fusion protein comprises at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide and a targeting sequence. The targeting sequence can be any of the targeting sequences listed above. The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

The present invention also relates to a method for protecting a plant from a pathogen. The method comprises introducing into a plant growth medium any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, or any of the formulations comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen. Alternatively, the method comprises applying to foliage of a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, or any of the formulations comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen. The protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

The present invention further relates to a method for immobilizing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spore on a root system of a plant. The method comprises introducing into a plant growth medium any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one root binding protein or peptide, or any of the formulations comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one root binding protein or peptide. Alternatively, the method comprises applying to foliage of a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one root binding protein or peptide, or any of the formulations comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members expressing a fusion protein comprising at least one root binding protein or peptide. The root binding protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows an alignment of the amino acid sequence of the amino-terminal portion of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BclA and with the corresponding region from various exosporium proteins from Bacillus cereus family members.

DEFINITIONS

When the articles “a,” “an,” “one,” “the,” and “said” are used herein, the mean “at least one” or “one or more” unless otherwise indicated.

The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

The term “bioactive peptide” refers to any peptide refers to any peptide that exerts a biological activity. “Bioactive peptides” can be generated, for example, via the cleavage of a protein or peptide by a protease or peptidase.

An “enzyme involved in the production of a plant growth stimulating compound” includes any enzyme that catalyzes any step in a biological synthesis pathway for a compound that stimulates plant growth. Such compounds include, for example, but are not limited to, small molecule plant hormones such as auxins and cytokinins, bioactive peptides, and small plant growth stimulating molecules synthesized by bacteria or fungi in the rhizosphere (e.g., 2,3-butanediol).

The term “fusion protein” as used herein refers to a protein having a polypeptide sequence that comprises sequences derived from two or more separate proteins. A fusion protein can be generated by joining together a nucleic acid molecule that encodes all or part of a first polypeptide with a nucleic acid molecule that encodes all or part of a second polypeptide to create a nucleic acid sequence which, when expressed, yields a single polypeptide having functional properties derived from each of the original proteins.

The term “immobilizing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spore on a root system” refers to the binding of a Bacillus cereus family member spore to a root of a plant, such that the spore is maintained at the plant's root structure instead of dissipating into the plant growth medium.

A “plant growth medium” includes any material that is capable of supporting the growth of a plant.

A “plant immune system enhancer protein or peptide” as used herein includes any protein or peptide that has a beneficial effect on the immune system of a plant.

The term “plant growth stimulating protein or peptide” as used herein includes any protein or peptide that increases plant growth in a plant exposed to the protein or peptide.

A “protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen” as used herein includes any protein or peptide that makes a plant exposed to the protein or peptide less susceptible to infection with a pathogen.

The term “root binding protein or peptide” refers to any peptide or protein capable of specifically or non-specifically binding to a plant root.

The term “targeting sequence” as used herein refers to a polypeptide sequence that, when present as part of longer polypeptide or a protein, results in the localization of the longer polypeptide or a protein to a specific subcellular location. The targeting sequences described herein result in localization of proteins to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fusion proteins containing a targeting sequence that targets the fusion protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member and: (a) at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide; (b) at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen; or (c) at least one root binding protein or peptide. When expressed in Bacillus cereus family member bacteria, these fusion proteins are targeted to the exosporium layer of the spore and are physically oriented such that the protein or peptide is displayed on the outside of the spore.

This Bacillus exosporium display (BEMD) system can be used to deliver peptides, enzymes, and other proteins to plants (e.g., to plant foliage or plant roots) or to a plant growth medium such as soil. Peptides, enzymes, and proteins delivered to the soil or another plant growth medium in this manner persist and exhibit activity in the soil for extended periods of time. Introduction of recombinant Bacillus cereus family member bacteria expressing the fusion proteins described herein into soil or the rhizosphere of a plant leads to a beneficial enhancement of plant growth in many different soil conditions. The use of the BEMD to create these enzymes allows them to continue to exert their beneficial results to the plant and the rhizosphere over the first years of a plants life.

Targeting Sequences

For ease of reference, the SEQ ID NOs. for the peptide and protein sequences referred to herein are listed in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1  Peptide and Protein Sequences Protein or targeting sequence (SEQ ID. NO) Sequence AA 1-41 of BclA MSNNNYSNGLNPDESLSASAFDPNLVGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 1) Full length BclA MSNNNYSNGLNPDESLSASAFDPNLVGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGP (SEQ ID NO: 2) FTTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGDTGTTGPTGPTGPTGPT GPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGFTPTGPTGPTGPTGDTGTTGPTGPTGPTG PTGPTGDTGTTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTFTGPTGPTGPTGA TGLTGPTGPTGPSGLGLPAGLYAFNSGGISLDLGINDPVPFNTVG SQFFTGTAISQLDADTFVISETGFYKITVIANTATASVLGGLTIQ VNGVPVPGTGSSLISLGAPFTIVIQAITQITTTPSLVEVIVTGLG LSLALGTSASIIIEKVA AA 1-33 of MSEKYIILHGTALEPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTFPNG BetA/BAS3290 (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 3) Full length MSEKYIILHGTALEPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTFPNGPTGITGPTGATG BetA/BAS3290 FTGIGITGPTGVTGPTGIGITGPTGATGLGILPVFGTITTDVGIG (SEQ ID NO: 4) FSVIVNTNINFTLPGPVSGTTLNPVDNSIIINTTGVYSVSFSIVF VIQAISSSILNLTINDSIQFAIESRIGGGPGVRATSARTDLLSLN QGDVLRVRIREATGDIIYSNASLVVSKVD Met + AA 2-43 of MVKVVEGNGGKSKIKSPLNSNFKILSDLVGPTFPPVPTGMTGIT BAS4623 (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 5) Full length BA54623 VVKVVEGNGGKSKIKSPLNSNFKILSDLVGPTFPPVPTGMTGITG (SEQ ID NO: 6) STGATGNTGPTGETGATGSAGITGSTGPTGNTGGTGSTGPTGNTG ATGSTGVTGSTGVTGSTGVTGSTGVTGSTGPTGETGGTGSTGVTG STGATGSTGVTGNTGPTGSTGATGNTGSIGETGGTGSMGPTGETG VTGSTGGTGSTGVTGNTGPTGSTGVTGSTGVTGSTGPTGSTGVTG STGPTGSTGVTGSTGVTGNMGPTGSTGVTGNTGSTGTTGATGETG PMGSTGATGTTGPTGETGETGETGGTGSTGPTGNTGATGSTGVTG STGVTGSTGVTGETGPTGSTGATGNTGPTGETGGTGSTGATGSTG VTGNTGPTGSTGVTGNTGATGETGPTGNTGATGNTGPTGETGVTG STGPTGETGVTGSTGPTGNTGATGETGATGSTGVTGNTGSTGETG PTGSTGPTGSTGATGVTGNTGPTGSTGATGATGSTGPTGSTGTTG NTGVTGDTGPTGATGVSTTATYAFANNTSGSVISVLLGGTNIPLP NNQNIGPGITVSGGNTVFTVANAGNYYIAYTINLTAGLLVSSRIT VNGSPLAGTINSPTVATGSFSATIIASLPAGAAVSLQLFGVVALA TLSTATPGATLTIIRLS AA 1-34 of BclB MKQNDKLWLDKGIIGPENIGPTFPVLPPIHIPTG (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 7) Full length BclB MKQNDKLWLDKGIIGPENIGPTFPVLPPIHIPTGITGATGATGIT (SEQ ID NO: 8) GATGPTGTTGATGATGITGVTGATGITGVTGATGITGVTGATGIT GVTGPTGITGATGPTGITGATGPAGITGVTGPTGITGATGPTGTT GVTGPTGDTGLAGATGPTGATGLAGATGPTGDTGATGPTGATGLA GATGPTGATGLTGATGATGATGGGAIIPFASGTTPALLVNAVLAN TGTLLGFGFSQPGIAPGVGGTLTILPGVVGDYAFVAPRDGIITSL AGFFSATAALAPLTPVQIQMQIFIAPAASNTFTPVAPPLLLTPAL PAIAIGTTATGIQAYNVPVVAGDKILVYVSLTGASPIAAVAGFVS AGLNIV AA 1-30 of BAS1882 MDEFLSSAALNPGSVGPTLPPMQPFQFRTG (B. anthracis Sterne) (SEQ ID NO: 9) Full length BAS1882  MDEFLSSAALNPGSVGPTLPPMQPFQFRTGPTGSTGAKGAIGNTE (SEQ ID NO: 10) PYWHTGPPGIVLLTYDFKSLIISFAFRILPIS AA 1-39 of gene 2280 MFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 11) Full length KBAB4 MFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGVTG gene 2280 PTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTG (SEQ ID NO: 12) VTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGETGPTGGTE GCLCDCCVLPMQSVLQQLIGETVILGTIADTPNTPPLFFLFTITS VNDFLVTVTDGTTTFVVNISDVTGVGFLPPGPPITLLPPTDVGCE CECRERPIRQLLDAFIGSTVSLLASNGSIAADFSVEQTGLGIVLG TLPINPTTTVRFAISTCKITAVNITPITM AA 1-39 of gene 3572 MFDKNEMKKTNEVLQANALDPNIIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 13) Full Length KBAB4 MFDKNEMKKTNEVLQANALDPNIIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGPTG gene 3572 PTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGPTGLTGPTGPTGLTG (SEQ ID NO: 14) PTGLTGPTGPTGLTGQTGSTGPTGATEGCLCDCCVFPMQEVLRQL VGQTVILATIADAPNVAPRFFLFNITSVNDFLVTVTDPVSNTTFV VNISDVIGVGFSLTVPPLTLLPPADLGCECDCRERPIRELLDTLI GSTVNLLVSNGSIATGFNVEQTALGIVIGTLPIPINPPPPTLFRF AISTCKITAVDITPTPTAT AA 1-49 of MSRKDKFNRSRMSRKDRFNSPKIKSEISISPDLVGPTFPPIPSFT Exosporium Leader LPTG Peptide (B. cereus VD200) (SEQ ID NO: 15) Full Length MSRKDKFNRSRMSRKDRFNSPKIKSEISISPDLVGPTFPPIPSFT Exosporium Leader LPTGITGPTFNINFRAEKNVAQSFTPPADIQVSYGNIIFNNGGGY Peptide SSVTNTFTAPINGIYLFSASIGFNPTLGTTSTLRITIRKNLVSVA (SEQ ID NO: 16) SQTGTITTGGTPQLEITTIIDLLASQTIDIQFSAAESGTLTVGSS NFFSGALLP AA 1-33 of MNEEYSILHGPALEPNLIGPTLPSIPPFTFPTG Exosporium Leader Peptide (B. cereus VD166) (SEQ ID NO: 17) Full Length MNEEYSILHGPALEPNLIGPTLPSIPPFTFPTGPTGITGPTGATG Exosporium Leader FTGIGITGPTGVTGPTGIGITGPTGATGPTGIGITGPTG Peptide (SEQ ID NO: 18) AA 1-39 of MKNRDNNRKQNSLSSNFRIPPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIG hypothetical protein IKG_04663 (B. cereus VD200) (SEQ ID NO: 19) Full Length MKNRDNNRKQNSLSSNFRIPPELIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIGITGPTG hypothetical protein PQGPTGPQGPRGLQGPMGEMGPTGPQGVQGIQGSVGPIGATGPEG IKG_04663, partial QQGPQGLRGPQGETGATGPGGVQGLQGPIGPTGATGAQGIQGIQG (SEQ ID NO: 20) LQGPIGATGPEGSQGIQGVQGLPGATGPQGIQGAQGIQGTPGPSG NTGATGATGATGQGITGPTGITGPTGITGPSGGPPGPTGPTGATG PGGGPSGSTGATGATGNTGATGSTGVTGATGSTGPTGSTGAQGLQ GIQGIQGPIGPTGPEGSQGIQGIPGPTGVTGEQGIQGVQGIQGAT GATGDQGPQGIQGVIGPQGVTGATGDQGPQGIQGVPGPSGETGPQ GVQGIQGPMGDIGPTGPEGPEGLQGPQGIQGVPGPVGATGPEGPQ GIQGIQGPVGATGPQGPQGIQGIQGVQGITGATGVQGATGIQGIQ GEIGATGPEGPQGVQGAQGAIGPTGPMGPQGVQGVQGIQGATGAQ GVQGPQGIQGIQGPTGATGDMGATGATGEGTTGPTGVTGPTGVTG PSGGPAGPTGPTGPSGPAGVTGPSGGPPGPTGATGATGVTGDTGA TGSTGVTGATGETGATGVTGLQGPQGIQGVQGEIGPTGPQGVQGP QGIQGVTGATGDQGPQGIQGPQGDIGPTGPQGIQGPQGSQGIQGA TGGTGAQGPQGIQGPQGDIGLTGSQGPTGIQGIQGEIGPTGPEGP EGLQGPQGIQGIQGPVGATGPEGPQGIQGIQGVQGATGPQGPQGI QGIQGVQGITGATGAQGATGIQGIQGEIGATGPEGPQGVQGIQGA IGPTGPMGAQGVQGIQGIQGATGAQGVQGPQGIQGVQGPTGATGE TGATGATGEGTTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPSGGPAGPTGPTGPSGPAGV TGPSGGPPGPTGATGATGVTGDTGATGSTGVTGATGATGATGVTG LQGPQGIQGVQGEIGPTGPQGIQGPQGIQGVTGATGAQGPQGIQG PQGDIGPTGSQGIQGPQGPQGIQGATGATGAQGPQGIQGPQGEIG PTGPQGPQGIQGPQGIQGPTG AA 1-39 of YVTN β- MSDKHQMKKISEVLQAHALDPNLIGPPLPPITPFTFPTG propeller protein (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 21) Full length YVTN β- MSDKHQMKKISEVLQAHALDPNLIGPPLPPITPFTFPTGSTGPTG propeller protein STGSTGPTGSTGNTGPTGPTGPPVGTNLDTIYVTNDISNNVSAID KBAB4 GNTNTVLTTIPVGTNPVGVGVNSSTNLIYVVNNGSDNISVINGST (SEQ ID NO: 22) NTVVATIPVGTQPFGVGVNPSTNLIYVANRTSNNVSVIKGGTNTV LTTIPVGTNPVGVGVNSSTNLIYVTNEIPNSVSVIKGGTNTVVAT IPVGLFPFGVGVNSLTNLIYVVNNSPHNVSVIDGNTNTVLTTISV GTSPVGVGVNLSTNLIYVANEVPNNISVINGNTNTVLTTIPVGTT PFEVGVNSSTNLIYVSNLNSNNVSVINGSANTVIATVPVGSVPRG IGVKP AA 1-30 of MDEFLSFAALNPGSIGPTLPPVPPFQFPTG hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 23) Full length MDEFLSFAALNPGSIGPTLPPVPPFQFPTGPTGSTGSTGPTGSTG hypothetical protein STGPTGFNLPAGPASITLTSNETTACVSTQGNNTLFFSGQVLVNG bcerkbab4_2363 SPTPGVVVSFSFSNPSLAFMVPLAVITNASGNFTAVFLAANGPGT KBAB4 VTVTASLLDSPGTMASVTITIVNCP (SEQ ID NO: 24) AA 1-30 of MDEFLSSTALNPCSIGPTLPPMQPFQFPTG hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131 (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 25) Full length MDEFLSSTALNPCSIGPTLPPMQPFQFPTGPTGSTGTTGPTGSIG hypothetical protein PTGNTGLTGNTGPTGITGPTGDTG bcerkbab4_2131 (SEQ ID NO: 26) AA 1-36 of triple  MKERDRQNSLNSNFRISPNLIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIG helix repeat  containing collagen (B. weihenstephensis KBAB4) (SEQ ID NO: 27) Full length triple  MKERDRQNSLNSNFRISPNLIGPTFPPVPTGFTGIGITGPTGPQG helix repeat- PTGPQGPRGFQGPMGEMGPTGPQGVQGIQGPAGQMGATGPEGQQG containing PQGLRGPQGETGATGPQGVQGLQGPIGPTGATGAQGIQGIQGLQG collagen KBAB4 PIGATGPEGPQGIQGVQGVPGATGSQGIQGAQGIQGPQGPSGNTG (SEQ ID NO: 28) ATGVTGQGISGPTGITGPTGITGPSGGPPGPTGATGATGPGGGPS GSTGATGATGNTGVTGSAGVTGNTGSTGSTGETGAQGLQGIQGVQ GPIGPTGPEGPQGIQGIPGPTGVTGEQGIQGVQGIQGITGATGDQ GPQGIQGAIGPQGITGATGDQGPQGIQGVPGPTGDTGSQGVQGIQ GPMGDIGPTGPEGPEGLQGPQGIQGVPGPAGATGPEGPQGIQGIQ GPIGVTGPEGPQGIQGIQGIQGITGATGAQGATGVQGVQGNIGAT GPEGPQGVQGTQGDIGPTGPMGPQGVQGIQGIQGPTGAQGVQGPQ GIQGIQGPTGVTGDTGTTGATGEGTTGATGVTGPSGVTGPSGGPA GPTGPTGPSGPTGLTGPSGGPPGPTGATGVTGGVGDTGATGSTGV TGATGVTGATGATGLQGPQGIQGVQGDIGPTGPQGVQGPQGIQGI TGATGDQGPQGIQGPQGIQGPTGPQGIQGGQGPQGIQGATGATGA QGPQGIQGIQGVQGPTGPQGPTGIQGVQGEIGPTGPQGVQGLQGP QGPTGDTGPTGPQGPQGIQGPTGATGATGSQGIQGPTGATGATGS QGIQGPTGATGATGATGATGATGATGATGVTGVSTTATYSFANNT SGSAISVLLGGTNIPLPNNQNIGPGITVSGGNTVFTVTNAGNYYI AYTINITAALLVSSRITVNGSPLAGTINSPAVATGSFNATIISNL AAGSAISLQLFGLLAVATLSTTTPGATLTIIRLS AA 1-39 of VFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTG hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660 (B. mycoides 2048) (SEQ ID NO: 29) Full length VFDKNEIQKINGILQANALNPNLIGPTLPPIPPFTLPTGPTGGTG hypothetical protein PTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTG bmyco0001_21660 VTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGVTGPTGGTEGCLCDCCVLPMQ (SEQ ID NO: 30) SVLQQLIGETVILGTIADTPNTPPLFFLFTITSVNDFLVTVTDGT TTFVVNISDVTGVGFLPPGPPITLLPPTDVGCECECRERPIRQLL DAFIGSTVSLLASNGSIAADFSVEQTGLGIVLGTLPINPTTTVRF AISTCKITAVNITPITM AA 1-30 of MDEFLYFAALNPGSIGPTLPPVQPFQFPTG hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540 (B. mycoides 2048) (SEQ ID NO: 31) Full length MDEFLYFAALNPGSIGPTLPPVQPFQFPTGPTGSTGATGSTGSTG hypothetical protein STGPTGSTGSTGSTGSTGPTGPTGPTGSTGPTGPTGFNLPAGPAS bmyc0001_22540 ITLTSNETTACVSTQGNNTLFFSGQVLVNGSPTPGVVVSFSFSNP (SEQ ID NO: 32) SLAFMVPLAVITNASGNFTAVFLAANGPGTVTVTASLLDSPGTMA SVTITIVNCP AA 1-21 of MDSKNIGPTFPPLPSINFPTG hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510 (B. mycoides 2048) (SEQ ID NO: 33) Full length MDSKNIGPTFPPLPSINFPTGVTGETGATGETGATGATGETGATG hypothetical protein ETGETGATGATGATGATGETGATGATGATGAAGATGETGATGETG bmyc0001_21510 ATGETGATGETGATGVTGETGATGETGAAGETGITGVTGPTGETG (SEQ ID NO: 34) ATGETGATGATGITGATGITGVAGATGETGAAGETGPTGATGAIG AIGATGATGITGVTGATGETGAAGATGITGVTGATGETGAAGATG ITGATGITGVAGATGITGPTGIPGTIPTTNLLYFTFSDGEKLIYT NADGIAQYGTTQILSPSEVSYINLFINGILQPQPFYEVTAGQLTL LDDEPPSQGSSIILQFIIIN AA 1-22 of collagen MIGPENIGPTFPILPPIYIPTG triple helix repeat protein (B. thuringiensis 35646) (SEQ ID NO: 35) Full length collagen MIGPENIGPTFPILPPIYIPTGETGPTGITGATGETGPTGITGPT triple helix repeat GITGATGETGSTGITGATGETGSTGITGPIGITGATGETGPIGIT protein GATGETGPTGITGSTGITGLTGVTGLTGETGPIGITGPTGITGPT (SEQ ID NO: 36) GVTGATGPTGGIGPITTTNLLYYTFADGEKLIYTDTDGIPQYGTT NILSPSEVSYINLFVNGILQPQPLYEVSTGKLTLLDTQPPSQGSS IILQFIIIN AA = amino acids

Bacillus is a genus of rod-shaped bacteria. The Bacillus cereus family of bacteria includes the species Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pseudomycoides, and Bacillus weihenstephensis. Under stressful environmental conditions, Bacillus cereus family bacteria undergo sporulation and form oval endospores that can stay dormant for extended periods of time. The outermost layer of the endospores is known as the exosporium and comprises a basal layer surrounded by an external nap of hair-like projections. Filaments on the hair-like nap are predominantly formed by the collagen-like glycoprotein BclA, while the basal layer is comprised of a number of different proteins. Another collagen-related protein, BclB, is also present in the exosporium and exposed on endospores of Bacillus cereus family members. BclA, the major constituent of the surface nap, has been shown to be attached to the exosporium with its amino-terminus (N-terminus) positioned at the basal layer and its carboxy-terminus (C-terminus) extending outward from the spore.

It was previously discovered that certain sequences from the N-terminal regions of BclA and BclB could be used to target a peptide or protein to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus endospore (see U.S. Patent Application Nos. 2010/0233124 and 2011/0281316, and Thompson et al., Targeting of the BclA and BclB proteins to the Bacillus anthracis spore surface, Molecular Microbiology 70(2):421-34 (2008), the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference). It was also found that the BetA/BAS3290 protein of Bacillus anthracis localized to the exosporium.

In particular, amino acids 20-35 of BclA from Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain have been found to be sufficient for targeting to the exosporium. A sequence alignment of amino acids 1-41 of BclA (SEQ ID NO: 1) with the corresponding N-terminal regions of several other Bacillus cereus family exosporium proteins and Bacillus cereus family proteins having related sequences is shown in FIG. 1. The conserved targeting sequence region of BclA (amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1) is shown in bold, and a more highly conserved region spanning amino acids 25-35 within the targeting sequence is underlined. SEQ ID NOs. 3, 5, and 7 in FIG. 1 are amino acids 1-33 of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BetA/BAS3290, a methionine followed by amino acids 2-43 of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BAS4623, and amino acids 1-34 of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BclB, respectively. (For BAS4623, it was found that replacing the valine present at position 1 in the native protein with a methionine resulted in better expression.) As can be seen from FIG. 1, each of these sequences contains a conserved region corresponding to amino acids 20-35 of BclA (SEQ ID NO: 1; shown in bold), and a more highly conserved region corresponding to amino acids 20-35 of BclA (underlined).

Additional proteins from Bacillus cereus family members also contain the conserved targeting region. In particular, in FIG. 1, SEQ ID NO: 9 is amino acids 1-30 of Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain BAS1882, SEQ ID NO: 11 is amino acids 1-39 of the Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 2280 gene product, SEQ ID NO: 13 is amino acids 1-39 of the Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 3572 gene product, SEQ ID NO: 15 is amino acids 1-49 of Bacillus cereus VD200 exosporium leader peptide, SEQ ID NO: 17 is amino acids 1-33 of Bacillus cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide, SEQ ID NO: 19 is amino acids 1-39 of Bacillus cereus VD200 hypothetical protein IKG_04663, SEQ ID NO: 21 is amino acids 1-39 of Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein, SEQ ID NO: 23 is amino acids 1-30 of Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363, SEQ ID NO: 25 is amino acids 1-30 of Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131, SEQ ID NO: 27 is amino acids 1-36 of Bacillus weihenstephensis KBAB4 triple helix repeat containing collagen, SEQ ID NO: 29 is amino acids 1-39 of Bacillus mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660, SEQ ID NO: 31 is amino acids 1-30 of Bacillus mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540, SEQ ID NO: 33 is amino acids 1-21 of Bacillus mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510, and SEQ ID NO: 35 is amino acids 1-22 of Bacillus thuringiensis 35646 collagen triple helix repeat protein. As shown in FIG. 1, each of the N-terminal regions of these proteins contains a region that is conserved with amino acids 20-35 of BclA (SEQ ID NO: 1), and a more highly conserved region corresponding to amino acids 25-35 of BclA.

In the fusion proteins of the present invention, any portion of BclA which includes amino acids 20-35, including full length BclA, can be used as the targeting sequence in the present invention.

Alternatively, any portion of BetA/BAS3290, BAS4623, BclB, BAS1882, the KBAB4 2280 gene product, the KBAB4 3572 gene product, B. cereus VD200 exosporium leader peptide, B. cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide, B. cereus VD200 hypothetical protein IKG_04663, B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein, B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363, B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131, B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 triple helix repeat containing collagen, B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660, B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540, B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510, or B. thuringiensis 35646 collagen triple helix repeat protein which includes the amino acids corresponding to amino acids 20-35 of BclA can serve as the targeting sequence. As can be seen from FIG. 1, amino acids 12-27 of BetA/BAS3290, amino acids 23-38 of BAS4623, amino acids 13-28 of BclB, amino acids 9-24 of BAS1882, amino acids 18-33 of KBAB4 2280 gene product, amino acids 18-33 of KBAB4 3572 gene product, amino acids 28-43 of B. cereus VD200 exosporium leader peptide, amino acids 12-27 of B. cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide, amino acids 18-33 of B. cereus VD200 hypothetical protein IKG_04663, amino acids 18-33 B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein, amino acids 9-24 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363, amino acids 9-24 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131, amino acids 15-30 of B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 triple helix repeat containing collagen, amino acids 18-33 of B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660, amino acids 9-24 of B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540, amino acids 1-15 of B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510, and amino acids 1-16 of B. thuringiensis 35646 collagen triple helix repeat protein correspond to amino acids 20-35 of BclA. Thus, any portion of these proteins that includes the above-listed corresponding amino acids can serve as the targeting sequence.

Furthermore, any amino acid sequence comprising amino acids 20-35 of BclA, or any of the above-listed corresponding amino acids can serve as the targeting sequence.

Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or SEQ ID NO: 1. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, or SEQ ID NO: 1. Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise full length BclA (SEQ ID NO: 2).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3, amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 3, or full length BetA/BAS3290 (SEQ ID NO: 4).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5, amino acids 23-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 5, or full length BAS4623 (SEQ ID NO: 6).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7, amino acids 13-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 7, or full length BclB (SEQ ID NO:8).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9, amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO. 9, or full length BAS1882 (SEQ ID NO. 10).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO:11, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 11, or the full length KBAB4 2280 gene product (SEQ ID NO: 12).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO:13, or the full length KBAB4 3572 gene product (SEQ ID NO:14).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15, amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO:15, or full length B. cereus VD200 exosporium leader peptide (SEQ ID NO:16).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17, amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO:17, or full-length B. cereus VD166 exosporium leader peptide (SEQ ID NO:18).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO:19, or full length B. cereus VD200 hypothetical protein IKG_04663 (SEQ ID NO:20).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence comprises amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO:21, or full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 YVTN β-propeller protein (SEQ ID NO:22).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23, amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO:23, or full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2363 (SEQ ID NO:24).

The targeting sequence comprise amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25, amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO:25, or full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 hypothetical protein bcerkbab4_2131 (SEQ ID NO:26).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence comprises amino acids 1-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27, amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO:27, or full length B. weihenstephensis KBAB4 triple helix repeat containing collagen (SEQ ID NO:28).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29, amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO:29, or full length B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyco0001_21660 (SEQ ID NO:30).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31, amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO:31, or full length B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_22540 (SEQ ID NO:32).

Alternatively, the targeting sequence comprises amino acids 1-15 of SEQ ID NO: 33, SEQ ID NO:33, or full length B. mycoides 2048 hypothetical protein bmyc0001_21510 (SEQ ID NO:34).

The targeting sequence can also comprise amino acids 1-16 of SEQ ID NO: 35, SEQ ID NO:35, or full length B. thuringiensis 35646 collagen triple helix repeat protein (SEQ ID NO:36).

In addition, it can readily be seen from the sequence alignment in FIG. 1 that while amino acids 20-35 of BclA are conserved, and amino acids 25-35 are more conserved, some degree of variation can occur in this region without affecting the ability of the targeting sequence to target a protein to the exosporium. FIG. 1 lists the percent identity of each of corresponding amino acids of each sequence to amino acids 20-35 of BclA (“20-35% Identity”) and to amino acids 25-35 of BclA (“25-35% Identity”). Thus, for example, as compared to amino acids 20-35 of BclA, the corresponding amino acids of BetA/BAS3290 are about 81.3% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BAS4623 are about 50.0% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BclB are about 43.8% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BAS1882 are about 62.5% identical, the corresponding amino acids of the KBAB4 2280 gene product are about 81.3% identical, and the corresponding amino acids of the KBAB4 3572 gene product are about 81.3% identical. The sequence identities over this region for the remaining sequences are listed in FIG. 1.

With respect to amino acids 25-35 of BclA, the corresponding amino acids of BetA/BAS3290 are about 90.9% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BAS4623 are about 72.7% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BclB are about 54.5% identical, the corresponding amino acids of BAS1882 are about 72.7% identical, the corresponding amino acids of the KBAB4 2280 gene product are about 90.9% identical, and the corresponding amino acids of the KBAB4 3572 gene product are about 81.8% identical. The sequence identities over this region for the remaining sequences are listed in FIG. 1.

Thus, the targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence having at least about 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO. 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 54%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%. Alternatively the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence having at least about 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can also comprises an amino acid sequence having at least about 56% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence having at least about 56% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 63%.

Alternatively, the targeting sequence can comprise an amino sequence having at least about 62% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. The targeting sequence can also consist of an amino acid sequence having at least about 62% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can also comprises an amino sequence having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 72%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 72%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino sequence having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence having at least about 75% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 of SEQ ID NO:1 is at least about 81%.

The targeting sequence can also comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO:1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 81%.

The targeting sequence can comprise an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 90%. Alternatively, the targeting sequence consists of an amino acid sequence having at least about 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least about 90%.

The skilled person will recognize that variants of the above sequences can also be used as targeting sequences, so long as the targeting sequence comprises amino acids 20-35 of BclA, the corresponding amino acids of BetA/BAS3290, BAS4263, BclB, BAS1882, the KBAB4 2280 gene product, or the KBAB 3572 gene product, or a sequence comprising any of the above noted sequence identities to amino acids 20-35 and 25-35 of BclA is present.

In any of the above targeting sequences, the targeting sequence can comprise the amino acid sequence GXT at its carboxy terminus, wherein X is any amino acid.

Fusion Proteins

The present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence and at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a peptide hormone, a non-hormone peptide, or an enzyme involved in the production of a plant growth stimulating compound.

The present invention also relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence and at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen.

In addition, the present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence and at least one root binding protein or peptide.

In any of the fusion proteins described herein, the targeting sequence can be any of the targeting sequences described above in the preceding section.

The fusion protein can be made using standard cloning and molecular biology methods known in the art. For example, a gene encoding a protein or peptide (e.g., a gene encoding a plant growth stimulating protein or peptide) can be amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ligated to DNA coding for any of the above-described targeting sequences to form a DNA molecule that encodes the fusion protein. The DNA molecule encoding the fusion protein can be cloned into any suitable vector, for example a plasmid vector. The vector suitably comprises a multiple cloning site into which the DNA molecule encoding the fusion protein can be easily inserted. The vector also suitably contains a selectable marker, such as an antibiotic resistance gene, such that bacteria transformed with the vector can be readily identified and isolated. Where the vector is a plasmid, the plasmid suitably also comprises an origin of replication. The DNA encoding the fusion protein is suitably under the control of a promoter which will cause expression of the fusion protein on the exosporium of a B. cereus family member endospore (e.g., a native bclA promoter from a B. cereus family member).

The fusion protein can also comprise additional polypeptide sequences that are not part of the targeting sequence or the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, or the root binding protein or peptide. For example, the fusion protein can include tags or markers to facilitate purification or visualization of the fusion protein (e.g., a polyhistidine tag or a fluorescent protein such as GFP or YFP).

Plant Growth Stimulating Proteins and Peptides

As noted above, the present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence and at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a peptide hormone, a non-hormone peptide, or an enzyme involved in the production of a plant growth stimulating compound.

For example, where the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a peptide hormone, the peptide hormone can comprise a phytosulfokine (e.g., phytosulfokine-α), clavata 3 (CLV3), systemin, Zm1GF, or a SCR/SP11.

Where the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a non-hormone peptide, the non-hormone peptide can comprise a RKN 16D10, Hg-Syv46, an eNOD40 peptide, RHPP, or kunitz trypsin inhibitor.

The plant growth stimulating protein or peptide can comprise an enzyme involved in the production of a plant growth stimulating compound. The enzyme involved in the production of a plant growth stimulating compound can be any enzyme that catalyzes any step in a biological synthesis pathway for a compound that stimulates plant growth.

The plant growth stimulating compound can comprise a compound produced by bacteria or fungi in the rhizosphere, e.g., 2,3-butanediol.

Alternatively, the plant growth stimulating compound can comprise a plant growth hormone, e.g., a cytokinin or an auxin.

Where the plant growth stimulating compound comprises a cytokinin, the cytokinin can comprise kinetin, cis-zeatin, trans-zeatin, 6-benzylaminopurine, dihydroxyzeatin, N6-(D2-isopentenyl) adenine, ribosylzeatin, N6-(D2-isopentenyl) adenosine, 2-methylthio-cis-ribosylzeatin, cis-ribosylzeatin, trans-ribosylzeatin, 2-methylthio-trans-ribosylzeatin, ribosylzeatin-5-monosphosphate, N6-methylaminopurine, N6-dimethylaminopurine, 2′-deoxyzeatin riboside, 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-trans-2-butenylaminopurine, ortho-topolin, meta-topolin, benzyladenine, ortho-methyltopolin, meta-methyltopolin, or a combination thereof.

Where the plant growth stimulating compound comprises an auxin, the auxin can comprise indole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-pyruvic acid, ndole-3-acetaldoxime, indole-3-acetamide, indole-3-acetonitrile, indole-3-ethanol, indole-3-pyruvate, indole-3-acetaldoxime, indole-3-butyric acid, a phenylacetic acid, or 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid, or a combination thereof.

The enzyme involved in the production of a plant growth stimulating compound can comprise an acetoin reductase, an indole-3-acetamide hydrolase, a tryptophan monoxygenase, an acetolactate synthetase, an α-acetolactate decarboxylase, a pyruvate decarboxylase, a diacetyl reductase, a butanediol dehydrogenase, an aminotransferase (e.g., tryptophan aminotransferase), a tryptophan decarboxylase, an amine oxidase, an indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase, an indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, a tryptophan side chain oxidase, a nitrile hydrolase, a nitrilase, a peptidase, a protease, an adenosine phosphate isopentenyltransferase, a phosphatase, an adenosine kinase, an adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, CYP735A, a 5′ ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, an adenosine nucleosidase, a zeatin cis-trans isomerase, a zeatin O-glucosyltransferase, a β-glucosidase, a cis-hydroxylase, a CK cis-hydroxylase, a CK N-glucosyltransferase, a 2,5-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, an adenosine nucleosidase, a purine nucleoside phosphorylase, or a zeatin reductase.

Where the enzyme comprises a protease or peptidase, the protease or peptidase can be a protease or peptidase that cleaves proteins or peptides to create a bioactive peptide. The bioactive peptide can be any peptide that exerts a biological activity.

Examples of bioactive peptides include RKN 16D10 and RHPP.

The protease or peptidase that cleaves proteins or peptides to create a bioactive peptide can comprise subtilisin, an acid protease, an alkaline protease, a proteinase, an endopeptidase, an exopeptidase, thermolysin, papain, pepsin, trypsin, pronase, a carboxylase, a serine protease, a glutamic protease, an aspartate protease, a cysteine protease, a threonine protease, or a metalloprotease.

The protease or peptidase can cleave proteins in a protein-rich meal (e.g., soybean meal or yeast extract).

Proteins and Peptides that Protects Plants from Pathogens

The present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence and at least one protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen.

For example, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen can comprise a plant immune system enhancer protein or peptide. The plant immune system enhancer protein or peptide can be any protein or peptide that has a beneficial effect on the immune system of a plant. Suitable plant immune system enhancer proteins and peptides include harpins, α-elastins, β-elastins, cryptogeins, flagellin proteins, and flagellin peptides.

Alternatively, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen can be a protein or peptide that has antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, or both antibacterial and antifungal activity. Examples of such proteins and peptides include bacteriocins, lysozymes, siderophores, avidins, streptavidins, conalbumins, albumins, or lactoferrins.

The protein that protects a plant from a pathogen can comprise an enzyme. Suitable enzymes include proteases and lactonases. The proteases and lactonases can be specific for a bacterial signaling molecule (e.g., a bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecule).

Where the enzyme is a lactonase, the lactonase can comprise 1,4-lactonase, 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylate lactonase, 3-oxoadipate enol-lactonase, actinomycin lactonase, deoxylimonate A-ring-lactonase, gluconolactonase L-rhamnono-1,4-lactonase, limonin-D-ring-lactonase, steroid-lactonase, triacetate-lactonase, or xylono-1,4-lactonase.

The enzyme can also be an enzyme that is specific for a cellular component of a bacterium or fungus. For example, the enzyme can comprise a β-1,3-glucanase, a β-1,4-glucanase, a β-1,6-glucanase, a chitosinase, a chitinase, a chitosinase-like enzyme, a lyticase, a peptidase, a proteinase, a protease (e.g., an alkaline protease, an acid protease, or a neutral protease), a mutanolysin, a stapholysin, or a lysozyme.

For any of the above fusion proteins comprising a protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen, the pathogen can be a bacterial pathogen or a fungal pathogen. For example, the pathogen can comprise an α-class Proteobacterium, a β-class Proteobacterium, a γ-class Proteobacterium, or a combination thereof. Particular bacterial pathogens include Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Pantoea stewartii, Erwinia carotovora, Ralstonia solanacearum, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Xanthomonas campestris, and combinations thereof.

Other pathogens include Acarosporina microspora, Aceria guerreronis, Achlya conspicua, Achlya klebsiana, Achlysiella williamsi, Acholeplasmataceae, Acidovorax avenae, Acremonium strictum, Acrocalymma medicaginis, Acrodontium simplex, Acrophialophora fusispora, Acrosporium tingitaninum, Aecidium, Aecidium aechmantherae, Aecidium amaryllidis, Aecidium breyniae, Aecidium campanulastri, Aecidium cannabis, Aecidium cantensis, Aecidium caspicum, Aecidium foeniculi, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Albonectria rigidiuscula, Albugo bliti, Albugo candida, Albugo ipomoeae-panduratae, Albugo laibachii, Albugo occidentalis, Albugo tragopogonis, Alternaria, Alternaria alternata, Alternaria brassicae, Alternaria brassicicola, Alternaria carthami, Alternaria cinerariae, Alternaria citri, Alternaria dauci, Alternaria dianthi, Alternaria dianthicola, Alternaria euphorbiicola, Alternaria helianthi, Alternaria helianthicola, Alternaria japonica, Alternaria leucanthemi, Alternaria limicola, Alternaria linicola, Alternaria mali, Alternaria padwickii, Alternaria panax, Alternaria radicina, Alternaria raphani, Alternaria saponariae, Alternaria senecionis, Alternaria solani, Alternaria tenuissima, Alternaria triticina, Alternaria zinniae, Amazonia, Amphobotrys ricini, Anguillosporella vermiformis, Anguina (genus), Anguina agrostis, Anguina amsinckiae, Anguina australis, Anguina balsamophila, Anguina funesta, Anguina graminis, Anguina spermophaga, Anguina tritici, Anisogramma anomala, Anthostomella pullulans, Antrodia albida, Antrodia serialiformis, Antrodia serialis, Aphanomyces cladogamus, Aphanomyces cochlioides, Aphanomyces euteiches, Aphanomyces euteiches f. sp. pisi, Aphanomyces raphani, Aphelenchoides, Aphelenchoides arachidis, Aphelenchoides besseyi, Aphelenchoides fragariae, Aphelenchoides parietinus, Aphelenchoides ritzemabosi, Aphelenchus avenae, Apiognomonia errabunda, Apiognomonia veneta, Apiospora montagnei, Appendiculella, Armillaria, Armillaria affinis, Armillaria apalosclera, Armillaria camerunensis, Armillaria duplicate, Armillaria fellea, Armillaria fumosa, Armillaria fuscipes, Armillaria griseomellea, Armillaria heimii, Armillaria mellea, Armillaria melleorubens, Armillaria montagnei, Armillaria omnituens, Armillaria pallidula, Armillaria paulensis, Armillaria pelliculata, Armillaria procera, Armillaria puiggarii, Armillaria singular, Armillaria socialis, Armillaria solidipes, Armillaria tabescens, Armillaria tigrensis, Armillaria umbrinobrunnea, Armillaria viridiflava, Armillaria yungensis, Arthrocladiella, Arthuriomyces peckianus, Ascochyta asparagine, Ascochyta bohemica, Ascochyta caricae, Ascochyta doronici, Ascochyta fabae f. sp. lentis, Ascochyta graminea, Ascochyta hordei, Ascochyta humuli, Ascochyta pisi, Ascochyta prasadii, Ascochyta sorghi, Ascochyta spinaciae, Ascochyta tarda, Ascochyta tritici, Ascospora ruborum, Ashbya gossypii, Aspergillus aculeatus, Aspergillus fischerianus, Aspergillus niger, Asperisporium caricae, Asperisporium minutulum, Asteridiella, Asteridiella perseae, Asteroma caryae, Asteroma coryli, Asteroma inconspicuum, Athelia arachnoidea, Athelia rolfsii, Aurantiporus fissilis, Belonolaimus, Belonolaimus gracilis, Belonolaimus longicaudatus, Beniowskia sphaeroidea, Bionectria ochroleuca, Bipolaris, Bipolaris cactivora, Bipolaris cookie, Bipolaris incurvata, Bipolaris sacchari, Biscogniauxia capnodes var. capnodes, Biscogniauxia marginata, Biscogniauxia nummularia, Bjerkandera adusta, Blakeslea trispora, Blumeria graminis, Botryodiplodia oncidii, Botryodiplodia ulmicola, Botryosphaeria cocogena, Botryosphaeria corticola, Botryosphaeria disrupta, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Botryosphaeria marconii, Botryosphaeria obtuse, Botryosphaeria quercuum, Botryosphaeria rhodina, Botryosphaeria ribis, Botryosphaeria stevensii, Botryosporium pulchrum, Botryotinia, Botryotinia fuceliana, Botrytis anthophila, Botrytis cinerea, Botrytis fabae, Bremia lactucae, Brenneria salicis, Briosia ampelophaga, Bulbomicrosphaera, Burkholderia andropogonis, Burkholderia caryophylli, Burkholderia glumae, Cadophora malorum, Caespitotheca, Calonectria indusiata, Calonectria kyotensis, Calonectria quinqueseptata, Calvatia versispora, Camarosporium pistaciae, Camarotella acrocomiae, Camarotella costaricensis, Candidatus Liberibacter, Capitorostrum cocoes, Capnodium footii, Capnodium mangiferum, Capnodium ramosum, Capnodium theae, Caulimoviridae, Cephaleuros virescens, Cephalosporium gramineum, Ceratobasidium cereal, Ceratobasidium cornigerum, Ceratobasidium noxium, Ceratobasidium ramicola, Ceratobasidium setariae, Ceratobasidium stevensii, Ceratocystis adiposa, Ceratocystis coerulescens, Ceratocystis fimbriata, Ceratocystis moniliformis, Ceratocystis paradoxa, Ceratocystis pilifera, Ceratocystis pluriannulata, Ceratorhiza hydrophila, Ceratospermopsis, Cercoseptoria ocellata, Cercospora, Cercospora angreci, Cercospora apii, Cercospora apii f. sp. clerodendri, Cercospora apiicola, Cercospora arachidicola, Cercospora asparagi, Cercospora atrofiliformis, Cercospora beticola, Cercospora brachypus, Cercospora brassicicola, Cercospora brunkii, Cercospora cannabis, Cercospora cantuariensis, Cercospora capsici, Cercospora carotae, Cercospora corylina, Cercospora fragariae, Cercospora fuchsiae, Cercospora fusca, Cercospora fusimaculans, Cercospora gerberae, Cercospora halstedii, Cercospora handelii, Cercospora hayi, Cercospora hydrangea, Cercospora kikuchii, Cercospora lentis, Cercospora liquidambaris, Cercospora longipes, Cercospora longissima, Cercospora mamaonis, Cercospora mangiferae, Cercospora medicaginis, Cercospora melongenae, Cercospora minima, Cercospora minuta, Cercospora nicotianae, Cercospora odontoglossi, Cercospora papaya, Cercospora penniseti, Cercospora pisa-sativae, Cercospora platanicola, Cercospora puderii, Cercospora pulcherrima, Cercospora rhapidicola, Cercospora rosicola, Cercospora rubrotincta, Cercospora sojina, Cercospora solani, Cercospora solani-tuberosi, Cercospora sorghi, Cercospora theae, Cercospora tuberculans, Cercospora vexans, Cercospora vicosae, Cercospora zeae-maydis, Cercospora zebrina, Cercospora zonata, Cercosporella rubi, Cereal cyst nematode, Ceriporia spissa, Ceriporia xylostromatoides, Cerrena unicolor, Ceuthospora lauri, Choanephora, Choanephora cucurbitarum, Choanephora infundibulifera, Chondrostereum purpureum, Chrysomyxa ledi var. rhododendri, Chrysomyxa ledicola, Chrysomyxa piperiana, Chrysomyxa roanensis, Cladosporium, Cladosporium arthropodii, Cladosporium caryigenum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium cladosporioides f. sp. pisicola, Cladosporium cucumerinum, Cladosporium herbarum, Cladosporium musae, Cladosporium oncobae, Clavibacter michiganensis, Claviceps fusiformis, Claviceps purpurea, Claviceps sorghi, Claviceps zizaniae, Climacodon pulcherrimus, Climacodon septentrionalis, Clitocybe parasitica, Clonostachys rosea f. rosea, Clypeoporthe iliau, Cochliobolus, Cochliobolus carbonum, Cochliobolus cymbopogonis, Cochliobolus hawaiiensis, Cochliobolus heterostrophus, Cochliobolus lunatus, Cochliobolus miyabeanus, Cochliobolus ravenelii, Cochliobolus sativus, Cochliobolus setariae, Cochliobolus spicifer, Cochliobolus stenospilus, Cochliobolus tuberculatus, Cochliobolus victoriae, Coleosporium helianthi, Coleosporium ipomoeae, Coleosporium madiae, Coleosporium pacificum, Coleosporium tussilaginis, Colletotrichum acutatum, Colletotrichum arachidis, Colletotrichum capsici, Colletotrichum cereale, Colletotrichum crassipes, Colletotrichum dematium, Colletotrichum dematium f. spinaciae, Colletotrichum derridis, Colletotrichum destructivum, Colletotrichum fragariae, Colletotrichum gossypii, Colletotrichum higginsianum, Colletotrichum kahawae, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, Colletotrichum lini, Colletotrichum mangenotii, Colletotrichum musae, Colletotrichum nigrum, Colletotrichum orbiculare, Colletotrichum pisi, Colletotrichum sublineolum, Colletotrichum trichellum, Colletotrichum trifolii, Colletotrichum truncatum, Coniella castaneicola, Coniella diplodiella, Coniella fragariae, Coniothecium chomatosporum, Coniothyrium celtidis-australis, Coniothyrium henriquesii, Coniothyrium rosarum, Coniothyrium wernsdorffiae, Coprinopsis psychromorbida, Cordana johnstonii, Cordana musae, Coriolopsis floccose, Coriolopsis gallica, Corticium invisum, Corticium penicillatum, Corticium theae, Coryneopsis rubi, Corynespora cassiicola, Coryneum rhododendri, Crinipellis sarmentosa, Cronartium ribicola, Cryphonectriaceae, Cryptocline cyclaminis, Cryptomeliola, Cryptoporus volvatus, Cryptosporella umbrina, Cryptosporiopsis tarraconensis, Cryptosporium minimum, Curvularia caricae-papayae, Curvularia penniseti, Curvularia senegalensis, Curvularia trifolii, Cylindrocarpon candidum, Cylindrocarpon ianthothele var. ianthothele, Cylindrocarpon magnusianum, Cylindrocarpon musae, Cylindrocladiella camelliae, Cylindrocladiella parva, Cylindrocladium clavatum, Cylindrocladium lanceolatum, Cylindrocladium peruvianum, Cylindrocladium pteridis, Cylindrosporium cannabinum, Cylindrosporium juglandis, Cylindrosporium rubi, Cymadothea trifolii, Cytospora, Cytospora palmarum, Cytospora personata, Cytospora platani, Cytospora sacchari, Cytospora sacculus, Cytospora terebinthi, Cytosporina ludibunda, Dactuliophora elongata, Daedaleopsis confragosa, Dasineura urticae, Datronia scutellata, Davidiella carinthiaca, Davidiella dianthi, Davidiella tassiana, Deightoniella papuana, Deightoniella torulosa, Dendrophoma marconii, Dendrophora erumpens, Denticularia mangiferae, Dermea pseudotsugae, Diaporthaceae, Diaporthe, Diaporthe arctii, Diaporthe citri, Diaporthe dulcamarae, Diaporthe eres, Diaporthe helianthi, Diaporthe lagunensis, Diaporthe lokoyae, Diaporthe melonis, Diaporthe orthoceras, Diaporthe perniciosa, Diaporthe phaseolorum, Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora, Diaporthe phaseolorum var. phaseolorum, Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae, Diaporthe rudis, Diaporthe tanakae, Diaporthe toxica, Dibotryon morbosum, Dicarpella dryina, Didymella bryoniae, Didymella fabae, Didymella lycopersici, Didymosphaeria arachidicola, Didymosphaeria taiwanensis, Dilophospora alopecuri, Dimeriella sacchari, Diplocarpon earlianum, Diplocarpon mali, Diplocarpon mespili, Diplocarpon rosae, Diplodia laelio-cattleyae, Diplodia manihoti, Diplodia paraphysaria, Diplodia theae-sinensis, Discosia artocreas, Guignardia fulvida, Discostroma corticola, Distocercospora, Distocercospora livistonae, Ditylenchus, Ditylenchus africanus, Ditylenchus angustus, Ditylenchus destructor, Ditylenchus dipsaci, Dolichodorus heterocephalus, Dothideomycetes, Dothiorella aromatic, Dothiorella dominicana, Dothiorella gregaria, Dothiorella ulmi, Drechslera avenacea, Drechslera campanulata, Drechslera dematioidea, Drechslera gigantea, Drechslera glycines, Drechslera musae-sapientium, Drechslera teres f. maculate, Drechslera wirreganensis, Durandiella pseudotsugae, Eballistra lineata, Eballistra oryzae, Eballistraceae, Echinodontium tinctorium, Ectendomeliola, Elsinoë ampelina, Elsinoë australis, Elsinoë batatas, Elsinoë brasiliensis, Elsinoë fawcettii, Elsinoë leucospila, Elsinoë mangiferae, Elsinoë pini, Elsinoë randii, Elsinoë rosarum, Elsinoë sacchari, Elsinoë theae, Elsinoë veneta, Endomeliola, Endothia radicalis, Endothiella gyrosa, Entoleuca mammata, Entorrhizomycetes, Entyloma ageratinae, Entyloma dahlia, Entyloma ellisii, Epicoccum nigrum, Ergot, Erwinia, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Erwinia psidii, Erysiphaceae, Erysiphales, Erysiphe, Erysiphe alphitoides, Erysiphe betae, Erysiphe brunneopunctata, Erysiphe cichoracearum, Erysiphe cruciferarum, Erysiphe flexuosa, Erysiphe graminis f. sp. avenae, Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici, Erysiphe heraclei, Erysiphe pisi, Eutypella parasitica, Eutypella scoparia, Exobasidium burtii, Exobasidium reticulatum, Exobasidium vaccinii var. japonicum, Exobasidium vaccinii-uliginosi, Exobasidium vexans, Exophiala, Flavescence dorée, Fomes fasciatus, Fomes lamaënsis, Fomes meliae, Fomitopsis cajanderi, Fomitopsis palustris, Fomitopsis rosea, Fomitopsis spraguei, Fomitopsis supina, Forma specialis, Frommeella tormentillae, Fusarium, Fusarium affine, Fusarium arthrosporioides, Fusarium circinatum, Fusarium crookwellense, Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium incarnatum, Fusarium solani, Fusarium merismoides, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. asparagi, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. batatas, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. betae, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cannabis, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. citri, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. coffea, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cyclaminis, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lentis, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lini, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. medicaginis, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, Fusarium pallidoroseum, Fusarium proliferatum, Fusarium redolens, Fusarium sacchari, Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi, Fusarium sporotrichioides, Fusarium subglutinans, Fusarium sulphureum, Fuscoporia torulosa, Fusicladium pisicola, Fusicoccum aesculi, Fusicoccum amygdali, Gaeumannomyces graminis var tritici, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae, Gaeumannomyces graminis var. graminis, Galactomyces candidum, Ganoderma brownii, Ganoderma lobatum, Ganoderma orbiforme, Ganoderma philippii, Ganoderma tornatum, Ganoderma zonatum, Geastrumia polystigmatis, Georgefischeriaceae, Georgefischeriales, Geosmithia morbida, Geotrichum, Geotrichum candidum, Geotrichum candidum var. citri-aurantii, Geotrichum klebahnii, Gibberella, Gibberella acuminata, Gibberella avenacea, Gibberella baccata, Gibberella cyanogena, Gibberella fujikuroi, Gibberella fujikuroi var. subglutinans, Gibberella intricans, Gibberella pulicaris, Gibberella stilboides, Gibberella xylarioides, Gibberella zeae, Gibellina cerealis, Gilbertella persicaria, Gjaerumiaceae, Gliocladium vermoeseni, Globodera pallida, Globodera rostochiensis, Globodera tabacum, Gloeocercospora sorghi, Gloeocystidiellum porosum, Gloeophyllum mexicanum, Gloeophyllum trabeum, Gloeoporus dichrous, Gloeosporium cattleyae, Gloeosporium theae-sinensis, Glomerella cingulate, Glomerella glycines, Glomerella graminicola, Glomerella tucumanensis, Gnomonia caryae, Gnomonia comari, Gnomonia dispora, Gnomonia iliau, Gnomonia leptostyla, Gnomonia nerviseda, Gnomonia rubi, Golovinomyces cichoracearum var. latisporus, Granulobasidium vellereum, Graphiola phoenicis, Graphium rigidum, Graphium rubrum, Graphyllium pentamerum, Grovesinia pyramidalis, Guignardia bidwellii f. muscadinii, Guignardia camelliae, Guignardia citricarpa, Guignardia mangiferae, Guignardia musae, Guignardia philoprina, Gummosis, Gymnoconia nitens, Gymnopus dryophilus, Gymnosporangium clavipes, Gymnosporangium sabinae, Gymnosporangium globosum, Gymnosporangium jumperi-virginianae, Gymnosporangium kernianum, Gymnosporangium nelsonii, Gymnosporangium yamadae, Haematonectria haematococca, Hansenula subpelliculosa, Hapalosphaeria deformans, Haplobasidion musae, Haustorium, Helicobasidium compactum, Helicobasidium longisporum, Helicobasidium purpureum, Helicoma muelleri, Helicotylenchus, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Helicotylenchus multicinctus, Helminthosporium cookei, Helminthosporium papulosum, Helminthosporium solani, Helotiales, Hemicriconemoides kanayaensis, Hemicriconemoides mangiferae, Hemicycliophora arenaria, Hemlock woolly adelgid, Hendersonia creberrima, Hendersonia theicola, Hericium coralloides, Heterobasidion annosum, Heterodera, Heterodera amygdali, Heterodera arenaria, Heterodera aucklandica, Heterodera avenae, Heterodera bergeniae, Heterodera bifenestra, Heterodera cacti, Heterodera cajani, Heterodera canadensis, Heterodera cardiolata, Heterodera carotae, Heterodera ciceri, Heterodera cruciferae, Heterodera delvii, Heterodera elachista, Heterodera filipjevi, Heterodera gambiensis, Heterodera goettingiana, Heterodera hordecalis, Heterodera humuli, Heterodera latipons, Heterodera medicaginis, Heterodera oryzae, Heterodera oryzicola, Heterodera rosii, Heterodera sacchari, Heterodera schachtii, Heterodera tabacum, Heterodera trifolii, Heteroderidae, Hexagonia hydnoides, Hirschmanniella oryzae, Hoplalaimus galeatus, Hoplolaimidae, Hoplolaimus columbus, Hoplolaimus indicus, Hoplolaimus magnistylus, Hoplolaimus pararobustus, Hoplolaimus seinhorsti, Hoplolaimus uniformis, Huanglongbing, Hyaloperonospora, Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis, Hyaloperonospora brassicae, Hyaloperonospora parasitica, Hymenula affinis, Hyphodermella corrugata, Hyphodontia aspera, Hyphodontia sambuci, Hypochnus, Hypoxylon tinctor, Idriella lunata, Inonotus arizonicus, Inonotus cuticularis, Inonotus dryophilus, Inonotus hispidus, Inonotus ludovicianus, Inonotus munzii, Inonotus tamaricis, Irenopsis, Irpex destruens, Irpex lacteus, Isariopsis clavispora, Johncouchia mangiferae, Kabatiella caulivora, Kabatiella lini, Karnal bunt, Khuskia oryzae, Kretzschmaria deusta, Kretzschmaria zonata, Kuehneola uredinis, Kutilakesa pironii, Labrella coryli, Laeticorticium roseum, Laetiporus baudonii, Lagenocystis radicicola, Laricifomes officinalis, Lasiodiplodia theobromas, Leandria momordicae, Leifsonia xyli xyli, Lentinus tigrinus, Lenzites betulina, Lenzites elegans, Lepteutypa cupressi, Leptodontidium elatius var. elatius, Leptographium microsporum, Leptosphaeria acuta, Leptosphaeria cannabina, Leptosphaeria coniothyrium, Leptosphaeria libanotis, Leptosphaeria lindquistii, Leptosphaeria maculans, Leptosphaeria musarum, Leptosphaeria pratensis, Leptosphaeria sacchari, Leptosphaeria woroninii, Leptosphaerulina crassiasca, Leptosphaerulina trifolii, Leptothyrium nervisedum, Leptotrochila medicaginis, Leucocytospora leucostoma, Leucostoma auerswaldii, Leucostoma kunzei, Leucostoma persoonii, Leveillula compositarum f. helianthi, Leveillula leguminosarum f. lentis, Leveillula taurica, Ligniera pilorum, Limacinula tenuis, Linochora graminis, Longidorus africanus, Longidorus maximus, Longidorus sylphus, Lopharia crassa, Lophodermium, Lophodermium aucupariae, Lophodermium schweinitzii, Lophodermium seditiosum, Macrophoma mangiferae, Macrophoma theicola, Macrophomina phaseolina, Macrosporium cocos, Magnaporthe, Magnaporthe grisea, Magnaporthe salvinii, Mamianiella coryli, Marasmiellus cocophilus, Marasmiellus inoderma, Marasmiellus scandens, Marasmiellus stenophyllus, Marasmius crinis-equi, Marasmius sacchari, Marasmius semiustus, Marasmius stenophyllus, Marasmius tenuissimus, Massarina walkeri, Mauginiella scaettae, Melampsora, Melampsora lini var. lini, Melampsora medusae, Melampsora occidentalis, Melanconis carthusiana, Melanconium juglandinum, Meliola, Meliola mangiferae, Meliolaceae, Meloidogyne acronea, Meloidogyne arenaria, Meloidogyne artiellia, Meloidogyne brevicauda, Meloidogyne chitwoodi, Meloidogyne enterolobii, Meloidogyne fruglia, Meloidogyne gajuscus, Meloidogyne incognita, Meloidogyne javanica, Meloidogyne naasi, Meloidogyne partityla, Meloidogyne thamesi, Meripilus giganteus, Merlinius brevidens, Meruliopsis ambigua, Mesocriconema xenoplax, Microascus brevicaulis, Microbotryum violaceum, Microdochium bolleyi, Microdochium dimerum, Microdochium panattonianum, Microdochium phragmitis, Microsphaera, Microsphaera coryli, Microsphaera diffusa, Microsphaera ellisii, Microsphaera euphorbiae, Microsphaera hommae, Microsphaera penicillata, Microsphaera penicillata var. vaccinii, Microsphaera vaccinii, Microsphaera verruculosa, Microstroma juglandis, Moesziomyces bullatus, Monilinia azaleae, Monilinia fructicola, Monilinia fructigena, Monilinia laxa, Monilinia mali, Moniliophthora perniciosa, Moniliophthora roreri, Monilochaetes infuscans, Monochaetia coryli, Monochaetia mali, Monographella albescens, Monographella cucumerina, Monographella nivalis var. neglecta, Monographella nivalis var. nivalis, Mononegavirales, Monosporascus cannonballus, Monosporascus eutypoides, Monostichella coryli, Mucor circinelloides, Mucor hiemalis, Mucor hiemalis f. silvaticus, Mucor mucedo, Mucor paronychius, Mucor piriformis, Mucor racemosus, Mycena citricolor, Mycena maculate, Mycocentrospora acerina, Mycoleptodiscus terrestris, Mycosphaerella angulata, Mycosphaerella arachidis, Mycosphaerella areola, Mycosphaerella berkeleyi, Mycosphaerella bolleana, Mycosphaerella brassicicola, Mycosphaerella caricae, Mycosphaerella caryigena, Mycosphaerella cerasella, Mycosphaerella citri, Mycosphaerella coffeicola, Mycosphaerella confusa, Mycosphaerella cruenta, Mycosphaerella dendroides, Mycosphaerella eumusae, Mycosphaerella fragariae, Mycosphaerella gossypina, Mycosphaerella graminicola, Mycosphaerella henningsii, Mycosphaerella horii, Mycosphaerella juglandis, Mycosphaerella lageniformis, Mycosphaerella linicola, Mycosphaerella louisianae, Mycosphaerella musae, Mycosphaerella musicola, Mycosphaerella palmicola, Mycosphaerella pinodes, Mycosphaerella pistaciarum, Mycosphaerella pistacina, Mycosphaerella platanifolia, Mycosphaerella polymorpha, Mycosphaerella pomi, Mycosphaerella punctiformis, Mycosphaerella pyri, Didymella rabiei, Mycosphaerella recutita, Mycosphaerella rosicola, Mycosphaerella rubi, Mycosphaerella stigmina-platani, Mycosphaerella striatiformans, Mycovellosiella concors, Mycovellosiella fulva, Mycovellosiella koepkei, Mycovellosiella vaginae, Myriogenospora aciculispora, Myrothecium roridum, Myrothecium verrucaria, Nacobbus aberrans, Nacobbus dorsalis, Naevala perexigua, Naohidemyces vaccinii, Nectria, Nectria cinnabarina, Nectria coccinea, Nectria ditissima, ectria foliicola, Nectria mammoidea var. rubi, Nectria mauritiicola, Nectria peziza, Nectria pseudotrichia, Nectria radicicola, Nectria ramulariae, Nectriella pironii, Nemania diffusa, Nemania serpens var. serpens, Nematospora coryli, Neocosmospora vasinfecta, Neodeightonia phoenicum, Neoerysiphe, Neofabraea malicorticis, Neofabraea perennans, Neofusicoccum mangiferae, Neonectria galligena, Oidiopsis gossypii, Oidium (genus), Oidium arachidis, Oidium caricae-papayae, Oidium indicum, Oidium mangiferae, Oidium manihotis, Oidium tingitaninum, Olpidium brassicae, Omphalia tralucida, Oncobasidium theobromas, Onnia tomentosa, Ophiobolus anguillides, Ophiobolus cannabinus, Ophioirenina, Ophiostoma ulmi, Ophiostoma wageneri, Ovulariopsis papayae, Ovulinia azaleae, Ovulitis azaleae, Oxyporus corticola, Oxyporus latemarginatus, Oxyporus populinus, Oxyporus similis, Ozonium texanum var. parasiticum, Paecilomyces fulvus, Paralongidorus maximus, Paratrichodorus christiei, Paratrichodorus minor, Paratylenchus curvitatus, Paratylenchus elachistus, Paratylenchus hamatus, Paratylenchus macrophallus, Paratylenchus microdorus, Paratylenchus projectus, Paratylenchus tenuicaudatus, Pathovar, Pauahia, Peach latent mosaic viroid, Pectobacterium carotovorum, Peltaster fructicola, Penicillium aurantiogriseum, Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium expansum, Penicillium funiculosum, Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium italicum, Penicillium purpurogenum, Penicillium ulaiense, Peniophora, Peniophora albobadia, Peniophora cinerea, Peniophora quercina, Peniophora sacrata, Perenniporia fraxinea, Perenniporia fraxinophila, Perenniporia medulla-panis, Perenniporia subacida, Periconia circinata, Periconiella cocoes, Peridermium californicum, Peronosclerospora miscanthi, Peronosclerospora sacchari, Peronosclerospora sorghi, Peronospora, Peronospora anemones, Peronospora antirrhini, Peronospora arborescens, Peronospora conglomerata, Peronospora destructor, Peronospora dianthi, Peronospora dianthicola, Peronospora farinosa, Peronospora farinosa f. sp. betae, Peronospora hyoscyami f. sp. tabacina, Peronospora manshurica, Peronospora potentillae, Peronospora sparsa, Peronospora trifoliorum, Peronospora valerianellae, Peronospora viciae, Pestalosphaeria concentrica, Pestalotia longiseta, Pestalotia longisetula, Pestalotia rhododendri, Pestalotiopsis, Pestalotiopsis adusta, Pestalotiopsis arachidis, Pestalotiopsis disseminata, Pestalotiopsis guepini, Pestalotiopsis leprogena, Pestalotiopsis longiseta, Pestalotiopsis mangiferae, Pestalotiopsis palmarum, Pestalotiopsis sydowiana, Pestalotiopsis theae, Pestalotiopsis versicolor, Phacidiopycnis padwickii, Phacidium infestans, Phaeochoropsis mucosa, Phaeocytostroma iliau, Phaeocytostroma sacchari, Phaeoisariopsis bataticola, Phaeolus schweinitzii, Phaeoramularia angolensis, Phaeoramularia dissiliens, Phaeoramularia heterospora, Phaeoramularia manihotis, Phaeoseptoria musae, Phaeosphaerella mangiferae, Phaeosphaerella theae, Phaeosphaeria avenaria f. sp. avenaria, Phaeosphaeria avenaria f. sp. triticae, Phaeosphaeria herpotrichoides, Phaeosphaeria microscopica, Phaeosphaeria nodorum, Phaeosphaeriopsis obtusispora, Phaeotrichoconis crotalariae, Phakopsora gossypii, Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phanerochaete allantospora, Phanerochaete arizonica, Phanerochaete avellanea, Phanerochaete burtii, Phanerochaete carnosa, Phanerochaete chrysorhizon, Phanerochaete radicata, Phanerochaete salmonicolor, Phanerochaete tuberculata, Phanerochaete velutina, Phellinus ferreus, Phellinus gilvus, Phellinus igniarius, Phellinus pini, Phellinus pomaceus, Phellinus weirii, Phialophora asteris, Phialophora cinerescens, Phialophora gregata, Phialophora tracheiphila, Phloeospora multimaculans, Pholiota variicystis, Phoma, Phoma caricae-papayae, Phoma clematidina, Phoma costaricensis, Phoma cucurbitacearum, Phoma destructiva, Phoma draconis, Phoma eupyrena, Phoma exigua, Phoma exigua var. exigua, Phoma exigua var. foveata, Phoma exigua var. linicola, Phoma glomerata, Phoma glycinicola, Phoma herbarum, Phoma insidiosa, Phoma medicaginis, Phoma microspora, Phoma nebulosa, Phoma oncidii-sphacelati, Phoma pinodella, Phoma scabra, Phoma sclerotioides, Phoma strasseri, Phoma tracheiphila, Phomopsis arnoldiae, Phomopsis asparagi, Phomopsis asparagicola, Phomopsis azadirachtae, Phomopsis cannabina, Phomopsis caricae-papayae, Phomopsis coffeae, Phomopsis elaeagni, Phomopsis ganjae, Phomopsis javanica, Phomopsis lokoyae, Phomopsis mangiferae, Phomopsis obscurans, Phomopsis perseae, Phomopsis prunorum, Phomopsis scabra, Phomopsis sclerotioides, Phomopsis tanakae, Phomopsis theae, Photoassimilate, Phragmidium, Phragmidium mucronatum, Phragmidium rosae-pimpinellifoliae, Phragmidium rubi-idaei, Phragmidium violaceum, Phyllachora cannabis, Phyllachora graminis var. graminis, Phyllachora gratissima, Phyllachora musicola, Phyllachora pomigena, Phyllachora sacchari, Phyllactinia, Phyllactinia angulata, Phyllactinia guttata, Phyllody, Phyllosticta, Phyllosticta alliariaefoliae, Phyllosticta anacardiacearum, Phyllosticta arachidis-hypogaeae, Phyllosticta batatas, Phyllosticta capitalensis, Phyllosticta caricae-papayae, Phyllosticta carpogena, Phyllosticta circumscissa, Phyllosticta coffeicola, Phyllosticta concentrica, Phyllosticta coryli, Phyllosticta cucurbitacearum, Phyllosticta cyclaminella, Phyllosticta erratica, Phyllosticta hawaiiensis, Phyllosticta lentisci, Phyllosticta manihotis, Phyllosticta micropuncta, Phyllosticta mortonii, Phyllosticta nicotianae, Phyllosticta palmetto, Phyllosticta penicillariae, Phyllosticta perseae, Phyllosticta platani, Phyllosticta pseudocapsici, Phyllosticta sojaecola, Phyllosticta solitaria, Phyllosticta theae, Phyllosticta theicola, Phymatotrichopsis omnivora, Physalospora abdita, Physalospora disrupta, Physalospora perseae, Physarum cinereum, Physoderma alfalfae, Physoderma leproides, Physoderma trifolii, Physopella ampelopsidis, Phytophthora, Phytophthora alni, Phytophthora boehmeriae, Phytophthora cactorum, Phytophthora cajani, Phytophthora cambivora, Phytophthora capsici, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Phytophthora citricola, Phytophthora citrophthora, Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora drechsleri, Phytophthora erythroseptica, Phytophthora fragariae, Phytophthora fragariae var. rubi, Phytophthora gallica, Phytophthora hibernalis, Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora inflata, Phytophthora iranica, Phytophthora katsurae, Phytophthora kernoviae, Phytophthora lateralis, Phytophthora medicaginis, Phytophthora megakarya, Phytophthora megasperma, Phytophthora nicotianae, Phytophthora palmivora, Phytophthora phaseoli, Phytophthora plurivora, Phytophthora ramorum, Phytophthora sojae, Phytophthora syringae, Phytophthora tentaculata, Phytoplasma, Pichia membranifaciens, Pichia subpelliculosa, Pileolaria terebinthi, Pilidiella quercicola, Plasmodiophora brassicae, Plasmopara, Plasmopara halstedii, Plasmopara helianthi f. helianthi, Plasmopara lactucae-radicis, Plasmopara nivea, Plasmopara obducens, Plasmopara penniseti, Plasmopara pygmaea, Plasmopara viticola, Platychora ulmi, Plenodomus destruens, Plenodomus meliloti, Pleochaeta, Pleosphaerulina sojicola, Pleospora alfalfae, Pleospora betae, Pleospora herbarum, Pleospora lycopersici, Pleospora tarda, Pleospora theae, Pleurotus dryinus, Podosphaera, Podosphaera clandestina var. clandestine, Podosphaera fusca, Podosphaera leucotricha, Podosphaera macularis, Podosphaera pannosa, Podosphaera tridactyla, Podosphaera tridactyla var. tridactyla, Podosphaera xanthii, Polymyxa graminis, Polyscytalum pustulans, Polystigma fulvum, Poria hypobrunnea, Postia tephroleuca, Potato cyst nematode, Pratylenchus alleni, Pratylenchus brachyurus, Pratylenchus coffeae, Pratylenchus crenatus, Pratylenchus dulscus, Pratylenchus fallax, Pratylenchus flakkensis, Pratylenchus goodeyi, Pratylenchus hexincisus, Pratylenchus loosi, Pratylenchus minutus, Pratylenchus mulchandi, Pratylenchus musicola, Pratylenchus neglectus, Pratylenchus penetrans, Pratylenchus pratensis, Pratylenchus reniformia, Pratylenchus scribneri, Pratylenchus thornei, Pratylenchus vulnus, Pratylenchus zeae, Pseudocercospora, Pseudocercospora arecacearum, Pseudocercospora cannabina, Pseudocercospora fuligena, Pseudocercospora gunnerae, Pseudocercospora kaki, Pseudocercospora mali, Pseudocercospora pandoreae, Pseudocercospora puderi, Pseudocercospora purpurea, Pseudocercospora rhapisicola, Pseudocercospora subsessilis, Pseudocercospora theae, Pseudocercospora vitis, Pseudocercosporella capsellae, Pseudocochliobolus eragrostidis, Pseudoepicoccum cocos, Pseudomonas amygdali, Pseudomonas asplenii, Pseudomonas avellanae, Pseudomonas caricapapayae, Pseudomonas cichorii, Pseudomonas coronafaciens, Pseudomonas corrugate, Pseudomonas ficuserectae, Pseudomonas flavescens, Pseudomonas fuscovaginae, Pseudomonas helianthi, Pseudomonas marginalis, Pseudomonas meliae, Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, Pseudomonas palleroniana, Pseudomonas papaveris, Pseudomonas salomonii, Pseudomonas savastanoi, Pseudomonas syringae, Pseudomonas tomato, Pseudomonas tremae, Pseudomonas turbinellae, Pseudomonas viridiflava, Pseudoperonospora cannabina, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Pseudoperonospora humuli, Pseudopezicula tetraspora, Pseudopezicula tracheiphila, Pseudopeziza jonesii, Pseudopeziza medicaginis, Pseudopeziza trifolii, Pseudoseptoria donacis, Puccinia, Puccinia angustata, Puccinia arachidis, Puccinia aristidae, Puccinia asparagi, Puccinia cacabata, Puccinia campanulae, Puccinia carthami, Puccinia coronate, Puccinia coronata var. hordei, Puccinia dioicae, Puccinia erianthi, Puccinia extensicola var. hieraciata, Puccinia helianthi, Puccinia hordei, Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis, Puccinia kuehnii, Puccinia mariae-wilsoniae, Puccinia melanocephala, Puccinia menthae, Puccinia pelargonii-zonalis, Puccinia pittieriana, Puccinia poarum, Puccinia psidii, Puccinia purpurea, Puccinia recondita, Puccinia schedonnardii, Puccinia sessilis, Puccinia striiformis f. sp. hordei, Puccinia striiformis var. striiformis, Puccinia subnitens, Puccinia substriata var. indica, Puccinia verruca, Puccinia xanthii, Pucciniaceae, Pucciniastrum, Pucciniastrum americanum, Pucciniastrum arcticum, Pucciniastrum coryli, Pucciniastrum epilobii, Pucciniastrum hydrangeas, Punctodera chalcoensis, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, Pycnoporus sanguineus, Pycnostysanus azaleae, Pyrenochaeta lycopersici, Pyrenochaeta terrestris, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, Pyrenophora, Pyrenophora avenae, Pyrenophora chaetomioides, Pyrenophora graminea, Pyrenophora seminiperda, Pyrenophora teres, Pyrenophora teres f. maculata, Pyrenophora teres f. teres, Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, Pythiaceae, Pythiales, Pythium, Pythium acanthicum, Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium aristosporum, Pythium arrhenomanes, Pythium buismaniae, Pythium debaryanum, Pythium deliense, Pythium dissotocum, Pythium graminicola, Pythium heterothallicum, Pythium hypogynum, Pythium irregulare, Pythium iwayamae, Pythium mastophorum, Pythium middletonii, Pythium myriotylum, Pythium okanoganense, Pythium paddicum, Pythium paroecandrum, Pythium perniciosum, Pythium rostratum, Pythium scleroteichum, Pythium spinosum, Pythium splendens, Pythium sulcatum, Pythium sylvaticum, Pythium tardicrescens, Pythium tracheiphilum, Pythium ultimum, Pythium ultimum var. ultimum, Pythium vexans, Pythium violae, Pythium volutum, Quinisulcius acutus, Quinisulcius capitatus, Radopholous similis, Radopholus similis, Ralstonia solanacearum, Ramichloridium musae, Ramularia, Ramularia beticola, Ramularia brunnea, Ramularia coryli, Ramularia cyclaminicola, Ramularia macrospora, Ramularia menthicola, Ramularia necator, Ramularia primulae, Ramularia spinaciae, Ramularia subtilis, Ramularia tenella, Ramulispora sorghi, Ramulispora sorghicola, Resinicium bicolor, Rhabdocline pseudotsugae, Rhabdocline weirii Rhabdoviridae, Rhinocladium corticola, Rhizoctonia, Rhizoctonia leguminicola, Rhizoctonia rubi, Rhizoctonia solani, Rhizomorpha subcorticalis, Rhizophydium graminis, Rhizopus arrhizus, Rhizopus circinans, Rhizopus microsporus var. microspores, Rhizopus oryzae, Rhodococcus fascians, Rhynchosporium, Rhynchosporium secalis, Rhytidhysteron rufulum, Rhytisma acerinum, Rhytisma vitas, Rigidoporus lineatus, Rigidoporus microporus, Rigidoporus ulmarius, Rigidoporus vinctus, Rosellinia arcuata, Rosellinia bunodes, Rosellinia necatrix, Rosellinia pepo, Rosellinia subiculata, Rotylenchulus, Rotylenchulus parvus, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Rotylenchus brachyurus, Rotylenchus robustus, Saccharicola taiwanensis, Saccharomyces florentinus, Saccharomyces kluyveri, Sarocladium oryzae, Sawadaea, Sawadaea tulasnei, Schiffnerula cannabis, Schizoparme straminea, Schizophyllum commune, Schizopora flavipora, Schizothyrium pomi, Scleroderris canker, Sclerophthora macrospora, Sclerophthora rayssiae, Sclerospora graminicola, Sclerospora mischanthi, Sclerotinia borealis, Sclerotinia minor, Sclerotinia ricini, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Sclerotinia spermophila, Sclerotinia trifoliorum, Sclerotium, Sclerotium cinnamomi, Sclerotium delphinii, Scutellonema brachyurum, Scutellonema cavenessi, Scytinostroma galactinum, Seimatosporium mariae, Seimatosporium rhododendri, Selenophoma linicola, Septobasidium, Septobasidium bogoriense, Septobasidium pilosum, Septobasidium pseudopedicellatum, Septobasidium theae, Septocyta ruborum, Septogloeum potentillae, Septoria, Septoria aciculosa, Septoria ampelina, Septoria azalea, Septoria bataticola, Septoria campanulae, Septoria cannabis, Septoria caryae, Septoria citri, Septoria cucurbitacearum, Septoria darrowii, Septoria dianthi, Septoria eumusae, Septoria fragariae, Septoria fragariaecola, Septoria glycines, Septoria helianthi, Septoria humuli, Septoria hydrangeas, Septoria lactucae, Septoria liquidambaris, Septoria lycopersici, Septoria lycopersici var. malagutii, Septoria menthae, Septoria ostryae, Septoria passerinii, Septoria pisi, Septoria pistaciae, Septoria platanifolia, Septoria rhododendri, Septoria secalis, Septoria selenophomoides, Setosphaeria rostrata, Setosphaeria turcica, Sirosporium diffusum, Sparassis, Sphaceloma, Sphaceloma arachidis, Sphaceloma coryli, Sphaceloma menthae, Sphaceloma perseae, Sphaceloma poinsettiae, Sphaceloma pyrinum, Sphaceloma randii, Sphaceloma sacchari, Sphaceloma theae, Sphacelotheca reiliana, Sphaerella platanifolia, Sphaeropsis tumefaciens, Sphaerotheca, Sphaerotheca castagnei, Sphaerotheca fuliginea, Sphaerulina oryzina, Sphaerulina rehmiana, Sphaerulina rubi, Sphenospora kevorkianii, Spiniger meineckellus, Spiroplasma, Spongipellis unicolor, Sporisorium cruentum, Sporisorium ehrenbergi, Sporisorium scitamineum, Sporisorium sorghi, Sporonema phacidioides, Stagonospora avenae f. sp. triticae, Stagonospora meliloti, Stagonospora recedens, Stagonospora sacchari, Stagonospora tainanensis, Steccherinum ochraceum, Stegocintractia junci, Stegophora ulmea, Stemphylium alfalfa, Stemphylium bolickii, Stemphylium cannabinum, Stemphylium globuliferum, Stemphylium lycopersici, Stemphylium sarciniforme, Stemphylium solani, Stemphylium vesicarium, Stenella anthuriicola, Stereum, Stereum hirsutum, Stereum rameale, Stereum sanguinolentum, Stigmatomycosis, Stigmella platani-racemosae, Stigmina carpophila, Stigmina liquidambaris, Stigmina palmivora, Stigmina platani, Stigmina platani-racemosae, Subanguina radicicola, Subanguina wevelli, Sydowia polyspora, Sydowiella depressula, Sydowiellaceae, Synchytrium endobioticum, Synchytrium fragariae, Synchytrium liquidambaris, Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Tapesia acuformis, Tapesia yallundae, Taphrina aurea, Taphrina bullata, Taphrina caerulescens, Taphrina coryli, Taphrina deformans, Taphrina entomospora, Taphrina johansonii, Taphrina potentillae, Taphrina ulmi, Taphrina wiesneri, Thanatephorus cucumeris, Thielaviopsis, Thielaviopsis basicola, Thyrostroma compactum, Tilletia barclayana, Tilletia caries, Tilletia controversa, Tilletia laevis, Tilletia tritici, Tilletia walkeri, Tilletiariaceae, Tobacco necrosis virus, Togniniaceae, Trachysphaera fructigena, Trametes gibbosa, Trametes hirsute, Trametes nivosa, Trametes pubescens, Tranzschelia discolor f. sp. persica, Tranzschelia pruni-spinosae var. discolor, Trichaptum biforme, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma koningii, Trichoderma viride, Trichothecium roseum, Tripospermum acerinum, Truncatella, Truncatella laurocerasi, Tubercularia lateritia, Tubercularia ulmea, Tubeufia pezizula, Tunstallia aculeata, Tylenchorhynchus, Tylenchorhynchus brevilineatus, Tylenchorhynchus claytoni, Tylenchorhynchus dubius, Tylenchorhynchus maximus, Tylenchorhynchus nudus, Tylenchorhynchus phaseoli, Tylenchorhynchus vulgaris, Tylenchorhynchus zeae, Tylenchulus semipenetrans, Typhula idahoensis, Typhula incarnate, Typhula ishikariensis, Typhula ishikariensis var. canadensis, Typhula variabilis, Typhulochaeta, Tyromyces calkinsii, Tyromyces chioneus, Tyromyces galactinus, Ulocladium atrum, Ulocladium consortiale, Uncinula, Uncinula macrospora, Uncinula necator, Uredo behnickiana, Uredo kriegeriana, Uredo musae, Uredo nigropuncta, Uredo rangelii, Urocystis, Urocystis agropyri, Urocystis brassicae, Urocystis occulta, Uromyces, Uromyces apiosporus, Uromyces beticola, Uromyces ciceris-arietini, Uromyces dianthi, Uromyces euphorbiae, Uromyces graminis, Uromyces inconspicuus, Uromyces lineolatus subsp. nearcticus, Uromyces medicaginis, Uromyces musae, Uromyces oblongus, Uromyces pisi-sativi, Uromyces proëminens var. poinsettiae, Uromyces trifolii-repentis var. fallens, Uromyces viciae-fabae var. viciae-fabae, Urophlyctis leproides, Urophlyctis trifolii, Urophora cardui, Ustilaginales, Ustilaginoidea virens, Ustilaginomycetes, Ustilago, Ustilago avenae, Ustilago hordei, Ustilago maydis, Ustilago nigra, Ustilago nuda, Ustilago scitaminea, Ustilago tritici, Valsa abietis, Valsa ambiens, Valsa auerswaldii, Valsa ceratosperma, Valsa kunzei, Valsa nivea, Valsa sordida, Valsaria insitiva, Venturia carpophila, Venturia inaequalis, Venturia pirina, Venturia pyrina, Veronaea musae, Verticillium, Verticillium albo-atrum, Verticillium albo-atrum var. menthae, Verticillium dahliae, Verticillium longisporum, Verticillium theobromas, Villosiclava virens, Virescence, Waitea circinata, Wuestneiopsis Georgiana, Xanthomonas ampelina, Xanthomonas axonopodis, Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, Xanthomonas oryzae, Xeromphalina fraxinophila, Xiphinema americanum, Xiphinema bakeri, Xiphinema brevicolle, Xiphinema diversicaudatum, Xiphinema insigne, Xiphinema rivesi, Xiphinema vuittenezi, Xylaria mali, Xylaria polymorpha, Xylella fastidiosa, Xylophilus, Xylophilus ampelinus, Zopfia rhizophila, Zygosaccharomyces bailii, and Zygosaccharomyces florentinus.

Root Binding Proteins and Peptides

The invention also relates to fusion proteins comprising a targeting sequence and at least one root binding protein or peptide. The root binding protein or peptide can be any protein or peptide that is capable of specifically or non-specifically binding to a plant root.

Suitable root binding proteins and peptides include adhesins (e.g., rhicadhesin), flagellins, omptins, lectins, pilus proteins, curlus proteins, intimins, invasins, agglutinins, and afimbrial proteins.

Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members that Express the Fusion Proteins

The present invention also relates to a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member that expresses a fusion protein. The fusion protein can be any of the fusion proteins discussed above.

The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can coexpress two or more of any of the fusion proteins discussed above. For example, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can coexpress at least one fusion protein that comprises a root binding protein or peptide, together with at least one fusion protein comprising a plant growth stimulating protein or peptide or at least one fusion protein comprising a protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen.

The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can comprise Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pseudomycoides, Bacillus weihenstephensis, or a combination thereof.

To generate a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein, any Bacillus cereus family member can be conjugated, transduced, or transformed with a vector encoding the fusion protein using standard methods known in the art (e.g., by electroporation). The bacteria can then be screened to identify transformants by any method known in the art. For example, where the vector includes an antibiotic resistance gene, the bacteria can be screened for antibiotic resistance. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can then exposed to conditions which will induce sporulation. Suitable conditions for inducing sporulation are known in the art. For example, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can be plated onto agar plates, and incubated at a temperature of about 30° C. for several days (e.g., 3 days).

Inactivated strains, non-toxic strains, or genetically manipulated strains of any of the above species can also suitably be used. For example, a Bacillus thuringiensis that lacks the Cry toxin can be used. Alternatively or in addition, once the recombinant B. cereus family spores expressing the fusion protein have been generated, they can be inactivated to prevent further germination once in use. Any method for inactivating bacterial spores that is known in the art can be used. Suitable methods include, without limitation, UV exposure, heat treatment, and irradiation. Alternatively, spores derived from nontoxigenic strains, or genetically or physically inactivated strains, can be used.

Formulations

The present invention also relates to formulations comprising any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed in the preceding section and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.

The agriculturally acceptable carrier can be any carrier suitable for agricultural use. For example, suitable agriculturally acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to dispersants, surfactants, additives, water, thickeners, anti-caking agents, residue breakdown, composting formulations, granular applications, diatomaceous earth, oils, coloring agents, stabilizers, preservatives, polymers, coatings, and combinations thereof.

The additive can comprise an oil, a gum, a resin, a clay, a polyoxyethylene glycol, a terpene, a viscid organic, a fatty acid ester, a sulfated alcohol, an alkyl sulfonate, a petroleum sulfonate, an alcohol sulfate, a sodium alkyl butane diamate, a polyester of sodium thiobutane dioate, a benzene acetonitrile derivative, a proteinaceous material (e.g., a milk product, wheat flour, soybean meal, blood, albumin, gelatin, or a combination thereof), or a combination thereof.

The thickener can comprise a long chain alkylsulfonate of polyethylene glycol, a polyoxyethylene oleate, or a combination thereof.

The surfactant can comprise a heavy petroleum oil, a heavy petroleum distillate, a polyol fatty acid ester, a polyethoxylated fatty acid ester, an aryl alkyl polyoxyethylene glycol, an alkyl amine acetate, an alkyl aryl sulfonate, a polyhydric alcohol, an alkyl phosphate, or a combination thereof.

The anti-caking agent comprises a sodium salt, a calcium carbonate, a sodium sulfite, a sodium sulfate, diatomaceous earth, or a combination thereof. For example, the sodium salt can comprise a sodium salt of monomethyl naphthalene sulfonate, a sodium salt of dimethyl naphthalene sulfonate, or a combination thereof.

Suitable agriculturally acceptable carriers include vermiculite, charcoal, sugar factory carbonation press mud, rice husk, carboxymethyl cellulose, peat, perlite, fine sand, calcium carbonate, flour, alum, a starch, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, or a combination thereof.

The formulation can comprise a seed coating formulation, a liquid formulation for application to plants or to a plant growth medium, or a solid formulation for application to plants or to a plant growth medium.

For example, the seed coating formulation can comprise an aqueous or oil-based solution for application to seeds. Alternatively, the seed coating formulation can comprise a powder or granular formulation for application to seeds.

The liquid formulation for application to plants or to a plant growth medium can comprise a concentrated formulation or a working form formulation.

The solid formulation for application to plants or to a plant growth medium can comprises a granular formulation or a powder agent.

Any of the above formulations can also comprise an agrochemical, for example, a fertilizer, a micronutrient fertilizer material, an insecticide, a herbicide, a plant growth amendment, a fungicide, an insecticide, a molluscicide, an algicide, a bacterial inoculant, a fungal inoculant, or a combination thereof.

The fertilizer can comprise a liquid fertilizer.

The fertilizer can comprise ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate nitrate, ammonium chloride, ammonium bisulfate, ammonium polysulfide, ammonium thiosulfate, aqueous ammonia, anhydrous ammonia, ammonium polyphosphate, aluminum sulfate, calcium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, calcium sulfate, calcined magnesite, calcitic limestone, calcium oxide, calcium nitrate, dolomitic limestone, hydrated lime, calcium carbonate, diammonium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulfate, potassium nitrate, potassium chloride, potassium magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium nitrates, magnesian limestone, magnesia, urea, urea-formaldehydes, urea ammonium nitrate, sulfur-coated urea, polymer-coated urea, isobutylidene diurea, K₂SO₄-2MgSO₄, kainite, sylvinite, kieserite, Epsom salts, elemental sulfur, marl, ground oyster shells, fish meal, oil cakes, fish manure, blood meal, rock phosphate, super phosphates, slag, bone meal, wood ash, manure, bat guano, peat moss, compost, green sand, cottonseed meal, feather meal, crab meal, fish emulsion, or a combination thereof.

The micronutrient fertilizer material can comprise boric acid, a borate, a boron frit, copper sulfate, a copper frit, a copper chelate, a sodium tetraborate decahydrate, an iron sulfate, an iron oxide, iron ammonium sulfate, an iron frit, an iron chelate, a manganese sulfate, a manganese oxide, a manganese chelate, a manganese chloride, a manganese frit, a sodium molybdate, molybdic acid, a zinc sulfate, a zinc oxide, a zinc carbonate, a zinc frit, zinc phosphate, a zinc chelate, or a combination thereof.

The insecticide can comprise an organophosphate, a carbamate, a pyrethroid, an acaricide, an alkyl phthalate, boric acid, a borate, a fluoride, sulfur, a haloaromatic substituted urea, a hydrocarbon ester, a biologically-based insecticide, or a combination thereof.

The herbicide can comprise a chlorophenoxy compound, a nitrophenolic compound, a nitrocresolic compound, a dipyridyl compound, an acetamide, an aliphatic acid, an anilide, a benzamide, a benzoic acid, a benzoic acid derivative, anisic acid, an anisic acid derivative, a benzonitrile, benzothiadiazinone dioxide, a thiocarbamate, a carbamate, a carbanilate, chloropyridinyl, a cyclohexenone derivative, a dinitroaminobenzene derivative, a fluorodinitrotoluidine compound, isoxazolidinone, nicotinic acid, isopropylamine, an isopropylamine derivatives, oxadiazolinone, a phosphate, a phthalate, a picolinic acid compound, a triazine, a triazole, a uracil, a urea derivative, endothall, sodium chlorate, or a combination thereof.

The fungicide can comprise a substituted benzene, a thiocarbamate, an ethylene bis dithiocarbamate, a thiophthalidamide, a copper compound, an organomercury compound, an organotin compound, a cadmium compound, anilazine, benomyl, cyclohexamide, dodine, etridiazole, iprodione, metlaxyl, thiamimefon, triforine, or a combination thereof.

The fungal inoculant can comprise a fungal inoculant of the family Glomeraceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Claroidoglomeraceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Gigasporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Acaulosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Sacculosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Entrophosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Pacidsporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Diversisporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Paraglomeraceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Archaeosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Geosiphonaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Ambisporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Scutellosporaceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Dentiscultataceae, a fungal inoculant of the family Racocetraceae, a fungal inoculant of the phylum Basidiomycota, a fungal inoculant of the phylum Ascomycota, a fungal inoculant of the phylum Zygomycota, or a combination thereof.

The bacterial inoculant can comprise a bacterial inoculant of the genus Rhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Bradyrhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Mesorhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Azorhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Allorhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Sinorhizobium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Kluyvera, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Azotobacter, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Pseudomonas, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Azospirillium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Bacillus, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Streptomyces, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Paenibacillus, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Paracoccus, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Enterobacter, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Alcaligenes, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Mycobacterium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Trichoderma, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Gliocladium, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Glomus, a bacterial inoculant of the genus Klebsiella, or a combination thereof.

Methods for Promoting Plant Growth

The present invention also relates to methods for stimulating plant growth. The method for stimulating plant growth comprises introducing into a plant growth medium any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above. Alternatively, any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above can be applied to the foliage of a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant. In such methods, the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

Alternatively, the method for stimulating plant growth comprises introducing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein into a plant growth medium or applying a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing a fusion protein to foliage of a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant. The fusion protein comprises at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide and a targeting sequence. The targeting sequence can be any of the targeting sequences discussed herein.

The plant growth stimulating protein can comprise an enzyme. For example, the enzyme can comprise an enzyme that degrades or modifies a bacterial, fungal, or plant nutrient source. Such enzymes include cellulases, lipases, lignin oxidases, proteases, glycoside hydrolases, phosphatases, nitrogenases, and nucleases.

Suitable cellulases include endocellulases (e.g., a Bacillus subtilis endoglucanase, a Bacillus thuringiensis endoglucanase, a Bacillus cereus endoglucanase, or a Bacillus clausii endoglucanase), exocellulases (e.g., a Trichoderma reesei exocellulase), and β-glucosidases (e.g., a Bacillus subtilis β-glucosidase, a Bacillus thuringiensis β-glucosidase, a Bacillus cereus β-glucosidase, or a Bacillus clausii B-glucosidase).

The lipase can comprise a Bacillus subtilis lipase, a Bacillus thuringiensis lipase, a Bacillus cereus lipase, or a Bacillus clausii lipase.

Suitable lignin oxidases comprise lignin peroxidases, laccases, glyoxal oxidases, liginases, and manganese peroxidases.

The protease can comprise a subtilisin, an acid protease, an alkaline protease, a proteinase, a peptidase, an endopeptidase, an exopeptidase, a thermolysin, a papain, a pepsin, a trypsin, a pronase, a carboxylase, a serine protease, a glutamic protease, an aspartate protease, a cysteine protease, a threonine protease, or a metalloprotease.

The phosphatase can comprise a phosphoric monoester hydrolase, a phosphomonoesterase, a phosphoric diester hydrolase, a phosphodiesterase, a triphosphoric monoester hydrolase, a phosphoryl anhydride hydrolase, a pyrophosphatase, a phytase, a trimetaphosphatase, or a triphosphatase.

The nitrogenase can comprise a Nif family nitrogenase.

In any of the above methods for stimulating plant growth, plants grown in the plant growth medium comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member exhibit increased growth as compared to the growth of plants in the identical plant growth medium that does not contain the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

Methods for Protecting a Plant from a Pathogen

The present invention further relates to methods for protecting a plant from a pathogen. Such methods comprise introducing any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above into a plant growth medium. Alternatively, such methods comprise applying any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above to foliage of a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant. In these methods, the protein or peptide that protects a plant from a pathogen is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

Plants grown in the plant growth medium comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member are less susceptible to infection with the pathogen as compared to plants grown in the identical plant growth medium that does not contain the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.

Methods for Immobilizing Bacillus Spores on a Root System

The present invention is also directed to methods for immobilizing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spore on a root system of a plant. These methods comprise introducing any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above into a plant growth medium. Alternatively, such methods comprise applying any of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family members discussed above or any of the formulations discussed above to foliage of a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant. The root binding protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus family member.

These methods allow the Bacillus cereus family member spore to bind to a root of a plant, such that the spore is maintained at the plant's root structure instead of dissipating into the plant growth medium.

In any of the methods for immobilizing a recombinant Bacillus cereus family member spore on a root system of a plant, the root binding protein or peptide can selectively target and maintain the Bacillus cereus family member at plant roots and substructures of plant roots.

Plant Growth Medium

In any of the above methods, the plant growth medium is material that is capable of supporting the growth of a plant. The plant growth medium can comprise soil, water, an aqueous solution, sand, gravel, a polysaccharide, mulch, compost, peat moss, straw, logs, clay, soybean meal, yeast extract, or a combination thereof. For example, the plant growth medium comprises soil, compost, peat moss, or a combination thereof.

The plant growth medium can optionally be supplemented with a substrate for an enzyme. For example, the substrate can comprise tryptophan, an adenosine monophosphate, an adenosine diphosphate, an adenosine triphosphate (e.g., adenosine-3-triphosphate), indole, a trimetaphosphate, ferrodoxin, acetoin, diacetyl, pyruvate, acetolactate, or a combination thereof.

Application Methods

In any of the above methods, the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member or formulation can be introduced into the plant growth medium or applied to foliage of a plant, to a plant seed, or to an area surrounding a plant.

For example, the method can comprise coating seeds with the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member or a formulation containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member prior to planting.

Alternatively, the method can comprise applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member or formulation to plant foliage.

The method can comprise introducing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member into the plant growth medium by applying a liquid or solid formulation containing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member to the medium (e.g., soil, compost, peat moss, or a combination thereof).

The formulation can be applied to the plant growth medium prior to, concurrently with, or after planting of seeds, seedlings, cuttings, bulbs, or plants in the plant growth medium.

Co-Application of Agrochemicals

Any of the above methods can further comprise introducing at least one agrochemical into the plant growth medium or applying at least one agrochemical to plants or seeds. The agrochemical can be any of those listed above for inclusion in the formulations, or any combination thereof.

Plants

The above methods can be practiced with a variety of plants. For example, the plant can be a dicotyledon, a monocotyledon, or a gymnosperm.

For example, where the plant is a dicotyledon, the dicotyledon can be selected from the group consisting of bean, pea, tomato, pepper, squash, alfalfa, almond, aniseseed, apple, apricot, arracha, artichoke, avocado, bambara groundnut, beet, bergamot, black pepper, black wattle, blackberry, blueberry, bitter orange, bok-choi, Brazil nut, breadfruit, broccoli, broad bean, Brussels sprouts, buckwheat, cabbage, camelina, Chinese cabbage, cacao, cantaloupe, caraway seeds, cardoon, carob, carrot, cashew nuts, cassava, castor bean, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, cherry, chestnut, chickpea, chicory, chili pepper, chrysanthemum, cinnamon, citron, clementine, clove, clover, coffee, cola nut, colza, corn, cotton, cottonseed, cowpea, crambe, cranberry, cress, cucumber, currant, custard apple, drumstick tree, earth pea, eggplant, endive, fennel, fenugreek, fig, filbert, flax, geranium, gooseberry, gourd, grape, grapefruit, guava, hemp, hempseed, henna, hop, horse bean, horseradish, indigo, jasmine, Jerusalem artichoke, jute, kale, kapok, kenaf, kohlrabi, kumquat, lavender, lemon, lentil, lespedeza, lettuce, lime, liquorice, litchi, loquat, lupine, macadamia nut, mace, mandarin, mangel, mango, medlar, melon, mint, mulberry, mustard, nectarine, niger seed, nutmeg, okra, olive, opium, orange, papaya, parsnip, pea, peach, peanut, pear, pecan nut, persimmon, pigeon pea, pistachio nut, plantain, plum, pomegranate, pomelo, poppy seed, potato, sweet potato, prune, pumpkin, quebracho, quince, trees of the genus Cinchona, quinoa, radish, ramie, rapeseed, raspberry, rhea, rhubarb, rose, rubber, rutabaga, safflower, sainfoin, salsify, sapodilla, Satsuma, scorzonera, sesame, shea tree, soybean, spinach, squash, strawberry, sugar beet, sugarcane, sunflower, swede, sweet pepper, tangerine, tea, teff, tobacco, tomato, trefoil, tung tree, turnip, urena, vetch, walnut, watermelon, yerba mate, wintercress, shepherd's purse, garden cress, peppercress, watercress, pennycress, star anise, laurel, bay laurel, cassia, jamun, dill, tamarind, peppermint, oregano, rosemary, sage, soursop, pennywort, calophyllum, balsam pear, kukui nut, Tahitian chestnut, basil, huckleberry, hibiscus, passionfruit, star apple, sassafras, cactus, St. John's wort, loosestrife, hawthorn, cilantro, curry plant, kiwi, thyme, zucchini, ulluco, jicama, waterleaf, spiny monkey orange, yellow mombin, starfruit, amaranth, wasabi, Japanese pepper, yellow plum, mashua, Chinese toon, New Zealand spinach, bower spinach, ugu, tansy, chickweed, jocote, Malay apple, paracress, sowthistle, Chinese potato, horse parsley, hedge mustard, campion, agate, cassod tree, thistle, burnet, star gooseberry, saltwort, glasswort, sorrel, silver lace fern, collard greens, primrose, cowslip, purslane, knotgrass, terebinth, tree lettuce, wild betel, West African pepper, yerba santa, tarragon, parsley, chervil, land cress, burnet saxifrage, honeyherb, butterbur, shiso, water pepper, perilla, bitter bean, oca, kampong, Chinese celery, lemon basil, Thai basil, water mimosa, cicely, cabbage-tree, moringa, mauka, ostrich fern, rice paddy herb, yellow sawah lettuce, lovage, pepper grass, maca, bottle gourd, hyacinth bean, water spinach, catsear, fishwort, Okinawan spinach, lotus sweetjuice, gallant soldier, culantro, arugula, cardoon, caigua, mitsuba, chipilin, samphire, mampat, ebolo, ivy gourd, cabbage thistle, sea kale, chaya, huauzontle, Ethiopian mustard, magenta spreen, good king henry, epazole, lamb's quarters, centella plumed cockscomb, caper, rapini, napa cabbage, mizuna, Chinese savoy, kai-lan, mustard greens, Malabar spinach, chard, marshmallow, climbing wattle, China jute, paprika, annatto seed, spearmint, savory, marjoram, cumin, chamomile, lemon balm, allspice, bilberry, cherimoya, cloudberry, damson, pitaya, durian, elderberry, feijoa, jackfruit, jambul, jujube, physalis, purple mangosteen, rambutan, redcurrant, blackcurrant, salal berry, satsuma, ugli fruit, azuki bean, black bean, black-eyed pea, borlotti bean, common bean, green bean, kidney bean, lima bean, mung bean, navy bean, pinto bean, runner bean, mangetout, snap pea, broccoflower, calabrese, nettle, bell pepper, raddichio, daikon, white radish, skirret, tat soi, broccolini, black radish, burdock root, fava bean, broccoli raab, lablab, lupin, sterculia, velvet beans, winged beans, yam beans, mulga, ironweed, umbrella bush, tjuntjula, wakalpulka, witchetty bush, wiry wattle, chia, beech nut, candlenut, colocynth, mamoncillo, Maya nut, mongongo, ogbono nut, paradise nut, and cempedak.

Alternatively, the dicotyledon can be from a family selected from the group consisting of Acanthaceae (acanthus), Aceraceae (maple), Achariaceae, Achatocarpaceae (achatocarpus), Actinidiaceae (Chinese gooseberry), Adoxaceae (moschatel), Aextoxicaceae, Aizoaceae (fig marigold), Akaniaceae, Alangiaceae, Alseuosmiaceae, Alzateaceae, Amaranthaceae (amaranth), Amborellaceae, Anacardiaceae (sumac), Ancistrocladaceae, Anisophylleaceae, Annonaceae (custard apple), Apiaceae (carrot), Apocynaceae (dogbane), Aquifoliaceae (holly), Araliaceae (ginseng), Aristolochiaceae (birthwort), Asclepiadaceae (milkweed), Asteraceae (aster), Austrobaileyaceae, Balanopaceae, Balanophoraceae (balanophora), Balsaminaceae (touch-me-not), Barbeyaceae, Barclayaceae, Basellaceae (basella), Bataceae (saltwort), Begoniaceae (begonia), Berberidaceae (barberry), Betulaceae (birch), Bignoniaceae (trumpet creeper), Bixaceae (lipstick tree), Bombacaceae (kapok tree), Boraginaceae (borage), Brassicaceae (mustard, also Cruciferae), Bretschneideraceae, Brunelliaceae (brunellia), Bruniaceae, Brunoniaceae, Buddlejaceae (butterfly bush), Burseraceae (frankincense), Buxaceae (boxwood), Byblidaceae, Cabombaceae (water shield), Cactaceae (cactus), Caesalpiniaceae, Callitrichaceae (water starwort), Calycanthaceae (strawberry shrub), Calyceraceae (calycera), Campanulaceae (bellflower), Canellaceae (canella), Cannabaceae (hemp), Capparaceae (caper), Caprifoliaceae (honeysuckle), Cardiopteridaceae, Caricaceae (papaya), Caryocaraceae (souari), Caryophyllaceae (pink), Casuarinaceae (she-oak), Cecropiaceae (cecropia), Celastraceae (bittersweet), Cephalotaceae, Ceratophyllaceae (hornwort), Cercidiphyllaceae (katsura tree), Chenopodiaceae (goosefoot), Chloranthaceae (chloranthus), Chrysobalanaceae (cocoa plum), Circaeasteraceae, Cistaceae (rockrose), Clethraceae (clethra), Clusiaceae (mangosteen, also Guttiferae), Cneoraceae, Columelliaceae, Combretaceae (Indian almond), Compositae (aster), Connaraceae (cannarus), Convolvulaceae (morning glory), Coriariaceae, Cornaceae (dogwood), Corynocarpaceae (karaka), Crassulaceae (stonecrop), Crossosomataceae (crossosoma), Crypteroniaceae, Cucurbitaceae (cucumber), Cunoniaceae (cunonia), Cuscutaceae (dodder), Cyrillaceae (cyrilla), Daphniphyllaceae, Datiscaceae (datisca), Davidsoniaceae, Degeneriaceae, Dialypetalanthaceae, Diapensiaceae (diapensia), Dichapetalaceae, Didiereaceae, Didymelaceae, Dilleniaceae (dillenia), Dioncophyllaceae, Dipentodontaceae, Dipsacaceae (teasel), Dipterocarpaceae (meranti), Donatiaceae, Droseraceae (sundew), Duckeodendraceae, Ebenaceae (ebony), Elaeagnaceae (oleaster), Elaeocarpaceae (elaeocarpus), Elatinaceae (waterwort), Empetraceae (crowberry), Epacridaceae (epacris), Eremolepidaceae (catkin-mistletoe), Ericaceae (heath), Erythroxylaceae (coca), Eucommiaceae, Eucryphiaceae, Euphorbiaceae (spurge), Eupomatiaceae, Eupteleaceae, Fabaceae (pea or legume), Fagaceae (beech), Flacourtiaceae (flacourtia), Fouquieriaceae (ocotillo), Frankeniaceae (frankenia), Fumariaceae (fumitory), Garryaceae (silk tassel), Geissolomataceae, Gentianaceae (gentian), Geraniaceae (geranium), Gesneriaceae (gesneriad), Globulariaceae, Gomortegaceae, Goodeniaceae (goodenia), Greyiaceae, Grossulariaceae (currant), Grubbiaceae, Gunneraceae (gunnera), Gyrostemonaceae, Haloragaceae (water milfoil), Hamamelidaceae (witch hazel), Hernandiaceae (hernandia), Himantandraceae, Hippocastanaceae (horse chestnut), Hippocrateaceae (hippocratea), Hippuridaceae (mare's tail), Hoplestigmataceae, Huaceae, Hugoniaceae, Humiriaceae, Hydnoraceae, Hydrangeaceae (hydrangea), Hydrophyllaceae (waterleaf), Hydrostachyaceae, Icacinaceae (icacina), Idiospermaceae, Illiciaceae (star anise), Ixonanthaceae, Juglandaceae (walnut), Julianiaceae, Krameriaceae (krameria), Lacistemataceae, Lamiaceae (mint, also Labiatae), Lardizabalaceae (lardizabala), Lauraceae (laurel), Lecythidaceae (brazil nut), Leeaceae, Leitneriaceae (corkwood), Lennoaceae (lennoa), Lentibulariaceae (bladderwort), Limnanthaceae (meadow foam), Linaceae (flax), Lissocarpaceae, Loasaceae (loasa), Loganiaceae (logania), Loranthaceae (showy mistletoe), Lythraceae (loosestrife), Magnoliaceae (magnolia), Malesherbiaceae, Malpighiaceae (barbados cherry), Malvaceae (mallow), Marcgraviaceae (shingle plant), Medusagynaceae, Medusandraceae, Melastomataceae (melastome), Meliaceae (mahogany), Melianthaceae, Mendonciaceae, Menispermaceae (moonseed), Menyanthaceae (buckbean), Mimosaceae, Misodendraceae, Mitrastemonaceae, Molluginaceae (carpetweed), Monimiaceae (monimia), Monotropaceae (Indian pipe), Moraceae (mulberry), Moringaceae (horseradish tree), Myoporaceae (myoporum), Myricaceae (bayberry), Myristicaceae (nutmeg), Myrothamnaceae, Myrsinaceae (myrsine), Myrtaceae (myrtle), Nelumbonaceae (lotus lily), Nepenthaceae (East Indian pitcherplant), Neuradaceae, Nolanaceae, Nothofagaceae, Nyctaginaceae (four-o'clock), Nymphaeaceae (water lily), Nyssaceae (sour gum), Ochnaceae (ochna), Olacaceae (olax), Oleaceae (olive), Oliniaceae, Onagraceae (evening primrose), Oncothecaceae, Opiliaceae, Orobanchaceae (broom rape), Oxalidaceae (wood sorrel), Paeoniaceae (peony), Pandaceae, Papaveraceae (poppy), Papilionaceae, Paracryphiaceae, Passifloraceae (passionflower), Pedaliaceae (sesame), Pellicieraceae, Penaeaceae, Pentaphragmataceae, Pentaphylacaceae, Peridiscaceae, Physenaceae, Phytolaccaceae (pokeweed), Piperaceae (pepper), Pittosporaceae (pittosporum), Plantaginaceae (plantain), Platanaceae (plane tree), Plumbaginaceae (leadwort), Podostemaceae (river weed), Polemoniaceae (phlox), Polygalaceae (milkwort), Polygonaceae (buckwheat), Portulacaceae (purslane), Primulaceae (primrose), Proteaceae (protea), Punicaceae (pomegranate), Pyrolaceae (shinleaf), Quiinaceae, Rafflesiaceae (rafflesia), Ranunculaceae (buttercup orranunculus), Resedaceae (mignonette), Retziaceae, Rhabdodendraceae, Rhamnaceae (buckthorn), Rhizophoraceae (red mangrove), Rhoipteleaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae, Rosaceae (rose), Rubiaceae (madder), Rutaceae (rue), Sabiaceae (sabia), Saccifoliaceae, Salicaceae (willow), Salvadoraceae, Santalaceae (sandalwood), Sapindaceae (soapberry), Sapotaceae (sapodilla), Sarcolaenaceae, Sargentodoxaceae, Sarraceniaceae (pitcher plant), Saururaceae (lizard's tail), Saxifragaceae (saxifrage), Schisandraceae (schisandra), Scrophulariaceae (figwort), Scyphostegiaceae, Scytopetalaceae, Simaroubaceae (quassia), Simmondsiaceae (jojoba), Solanaceae (potato), Sonneratiaceae (sonneratia), Sphaerosepalaceae, Sphenocleaceae (spenoclea), Stackhousiaceae (stackhousia), Stachyuraceae, Staphyleaceae (bladdernut), Sterculiaceae (cacao), Stylidiaceae, Styracaceae (storax), Surianaceae (suriana), Symplocaceae (sweetleaf), Tamaricaceae (tamarix), Tepuianthaceae, Tetracentraceae, Tetrameristaceae, Theaceae (tea), Theligonaceae, Theophrastaceae (theophrasta), Thymelaeaceae (mezereum), Ticodendraceae, Tiliaceae (linden), Tovariaceae, Trapaceae (water chestnut), Tremandraceae, Trigoniaceae, Trimeniaceae, Trochodendraceae, Tropaeolaceae (nasturtium), Turneraceae (turnera), Ulmaceae (elm), Urticaceae (nettle), Valerianaceae (valerian), Verbenaceae (verbena), Violaceae (violet), Viscaceae (Christmas mistletoe), Vitaceae (grape), Vochysiaceae, Winteraceae (wintera), Xanthophyllaceae, and Zygophyllaceae (creosote bush).

Where the plant is a monocotyledon, the monocotyledon can be selected from the group consisting of corn, wheat, oat, rice, barley, millet, banana, onion, garlic, asparagus, ryegrass, millet, fonio, raishan, nipa grass, turmeric, saffron, galangal, chive, cardamom, date palm, pineapple, shallot, leek, scallion, water chestnut, ramp, Job's tears, bamboo, ragi, spotless watermeal, arrowleaf elephant ear, Tahitian spinach, abaca, areca, bajra, betel nut, broom millet, broom sorghum, citronella, coconut, cocoyam, maize, dasheen, durra, durum wheat, edo, Pique, formio, ginger, orchard grass, esparto grass, Sudan grass, guinea corn, Manila hemp, henequen, hybrid maize, jowar, lemon grass, maguey, bulrush millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, Japanese millet, proso millet, New Zealand flax, oats, oil palm, palm palmyra, sago palm, redtop, sisal, sorghum, spelt wheat, sweet corn, sweet sorghum, taro, teff, timothy grass, triticale, vanilla, wheat, and yam.

Alternatively, the monocotyledon can be from a family selected from the group consisting of Acoraceae (calamus), Agavaceae (century plant), Alismataceae (water plantain), Aloeaceae (aloe), Aponogetonaceae (cape pondweed), Araceae (arum), Arecaceae (palm), Bromeliaceae (bromeliad), Burmanniaceae (burmannia), Butomaceae (flowering rush), Cannaceae (canna), Centrolepidaceae, Commelinaceae (spiderwort), Corsiaceae, Costaceae (costus), Cyanastraceae, Cyclanthaceae (Panama hat), Cymodoceaceae (manatee grass), Cyperaceae (sedge), Dioscoreaceae (yam), Eriocaulaceae (pipewort), Flagellariaceae, Geosiridaceae, Haemodoraceae (bloodwort), Hanguanaceae (hanguana), Heliconiaceae (heliconia), Hydatellaceae, Hydrocharitaceae (tape grass), Iridaceae (iris), Joinvilleaceae (joinvillea), Juncaceae (rush), Juncaginaceae (arrow grass), Lemnaceae (duckweed), Liliaceae (lily), Limnocharitaceae (water poppy), Lowiaceae, Marantaceae (prayer plant), Mayacaceae (mayaca), Musaceae (banana), Najadaceae (water nymph), Orchidaceae (orchid), Pandanaceae (screw pine), Petrosaviaceae, Philydraceae (philydraceae), Poaceae (grass), Pontederiaceae (water hyacinth), Posidoniaceae (posidonia), Potamogetonaceae (pondweed), Rapateaceae, Restionaceae, Ruppiaceae (ditch grass), Scheuchzeriaceae (scheuchzeria), Smilacaceae (catbrier), Sparganiaceae (bur reed), Stemonaceae (stemona), Strelitziaceae, Taccaceae (tacca), Thurniaceae, Triuridaceae, Typhaceae (cattail), Velloziaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae, Xyridaceae (yellow-eyed grass), Zannichelliaceae (horned pondweed), Zingiberaceae (ginger), and Zosteraceae (eelgrass).

Where the plant is a gymnosperm, the gymnosperm can be from a family selected from the group consisting of Araucariaceae, Boweniaceae, Cephalotaxaceae, Cupressaceae, Cycadaceae, Ephedraceae, Ginkgoaceae, Gnetaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae, Taxaceae, Taxodiaceae, Welwitschiaceae, and Zamiaceae.

EXAMPLES

The following non-limiting examples are provided to further illustrate the present invention.

Example 1. Use of a Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Member Displaying a Lipase or an Endogluconase to Stimulate Plant Growth in Soybeans

The Bacillus subtilis lipase and endoglucanase genes were amplified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the following primers shown below in Table 2:

TABLE 2 lipase endogluconase forward ggatccatggctgaa ggatccatgaaacgg cacaatcc tcaatc (SEQ ID NO: 37) (SEQ ID NO: 39) reverse ggatccttaattcgt ggatccttactaatt attctggcc tggttctgt (SEQ ID NO: 38) (SEQ ID NO: 40)

To create fusion constructs, genes were fused to the native bclA promoter of Bacillus thuringiensis DNA encoding the first 35 amino acids of BclA (amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO:1) using the splicing by overlapping extension (SOE) technique. Correct amplicons were cloned into the E. coli/Bacillus shuttle vector pHP13, and correct clones screened by DNA sequencing. Correct clones were electroporated into Bacillus thuringiensis (Cry-, plasmid-) and screened for chloramphenicol resistance. Correct transformants were grown in Brain Heart Infusion broth overnight at 30° C., plated onto nutrient agar plates, and incubated at 30° C. for 3 days. Spores expressing the fusion construct (BEMD spores) were collected off of the plates by washing in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and purified by centrifugation and additional washes in PBS. Non-transformed control Bacillus thuringiensis (B. t.) spores were created identically.

Soybeans (strain Jake 011-28-04) were planted 1 inch (2.54 cm) deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/m1 in 50 ml of water and applied to each seed at planting. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 11 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 60-78° F. (15.5-25.5° C.). Plants were watered to saturation every three days over a two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured and measurements were normalized to control Bacillus thuringiensis spores. Two independent trials were performed.

Results are shown in Table 3, together with the standard error of the mean. In both trials, soybeans grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying either lipase or endoglucanase grew significantly taller than control B.t. spore treated soybeans (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test).

TABLE 3 Soybeans Avg. Height, Comparison Treatment Inches (cm) to Control SEM Trial #1 Control Bt 5.525 (14.034) 100.0% .521 Lipase, BEMD 7.06 (17.93) 127.8% .395 Endocellulase, BEMD 6.42 (16.31) 116.2% .411 Trial #2 Control Bt 6.06 (15.39) 100.0% .749 Lipase, BEMD 7.54 (19.15) 124.4% .428 Endocellulase, BEMD 6.95 (17.65) 114.7% .313

Example 2. Use of a Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Member Displaying an Endoglucanase to Stimulate Plant Growth in Corn

BEMD spores expressing endoglucanase were created in an identical fashion as described above in Example 1. Field corn was planted 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores, control and BEMD expressing endoglucanase, were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/m1 in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 11 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 60-78° F. (15.5-25.5° C.). Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the one week trial. At the end of one week, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control Bacillus thuringiensis spores.

Results are shown in Table 4, together with the standard error of the mean. Corn grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying endoglucanase grew significantly taller than both control B.t. spore treated soybeans and water-only control plants (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test).

TABLE 4 Height, inches (cm) Comparison SEM H₂O 6.08 (15.44)   100% 0.318 Bt 7.45 (18.92) 122.50% 0.645 BEMD Endo 8.73 (22.71) 143.40% 0.616

Example 3. Use of a Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Member Displaying an Endogluconase or a Protease to Stimulate Plant Growth in Wheat

BEMD spores expressing endoglucanase were created in an identical fashion as described above in Example 1. BEMD spores expressing E. coli protease PtrB were created using similar methods to those described above in Example 1 and the following primers: ggatccatgctaccaaaagcc (forward, SEQ ID NO: 41) and ggatccttagtccgcaggcgtagc (reverse, SEQ ID NO: 42).

Winter hard wheat was planted 1 inch (2.54 cm) deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores, control and BEMD expressing endoglucanase or protease, were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/m1 in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 11 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 60-78° F. (15.5-25.5° C.). Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the one week trial. At the end of one week, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control water only plants.

Results are shown in Table 5, together with the standard error of the mean. Wheat grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying endoglucanase or protease grew significantly taller than control B. t. spore treated or water control soybeans (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test).

TABLE 5 Height, inches (cm) Comparison SEM H₂O 7.13 (18.11)   100% 0.721 Bt Control 7.86 (19.96) 110.33% 0.752 BEMD Endo 9.75 (24.76) 136.80% 0.21 BEMD Protease  8.8 (22.35) 123.40% 0.354

Example 4. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying an Endogluconase to Stimulate Plant Growth in Ryegrass

BEMD spores expressing endogluconase were created in an identical fashion as described above in Example 1. Perennial ryegrass was planted 0.25 inches (6.4 mm) deep in 10 cm deep pots filled with standard loam topsoil. Spores, both control and BEMD expressing endogluconase, were diluted to a concentration of 1×10⁴/m1 in 50 ml of water and applied to each plant at planting. A water-only control was also included. Plants were grown under ideal light using T5 lamps, 54 watts, and exposed to 11 hours of light a day under controlled temperature conditions between 60-78° F. (15.5-25.5° C.). Plants were watered to saturation every three days over the two week trial. At the end of two weeks, the height of each plant was measured, and measurements were normalized to control water only plants.

Results are shown in Table 6, together with the standard error of the mean. Ryegrass grown in the presence of BEMD spores displaying endocellulase grew significantly taller than control B.t. spore treated or water control ryegrass (statistical analysis assayed via a t-test).

TABLE 6 Height, inches (cm) Comparison SEM H₂O  4.5 (11.43) 100.0% 0.137 Bt Control 4.84 (12.29) 107.7% 0.128 BEMD Endo 5.03 (12.78) 111.9% 0.137

Example 5. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Enzymes Involved in the Synthesis of Plant Hormones to Stimulate Plant Growth

The BEMD system can also be used to display enzymes involved in the synthesis of plant hormones. For example, the plant hormone indole-3-acetic acid is a potent growth stimulator in plants. Indole-3-acetic acid is synthesized in vivo from tryptophan by the enzymes tryptophan monoxygenase and indole-3-acetamide hydrolase. Indole-3-acetic acid and other auxin hormones can also be synthesized in vivo from tryptophan and/or indole by the enzymes nitrilase, tryptophan aminotransferase, indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase, amine oxidase, tryptophan decarboxylase, and tryptophan side chain oxidases.

Related plant growth hormones (auxins) include indole-3-pyruvic acid, indole-3-acetaldoxime, indole-3-acetamide, indole-3-acetonitrile, indole-3-ethanol, indole-3-pyruvate, indole-3-butyric acid, phenylacetic acids, 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid, and indole-3-acetaldoxime. These hormones are synthesized from tryptophan and/or indole in vivo via the enzymes tryptophan monoxygenase, indole-3-acetamide hydrolase, nitrilase, nitrile hydrolase, acetolactate synthetase, alpha acetolactate decarboxylase, tryptophan aminotransferase, indole-3-acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase, amine oxidase, tryptophan decarboxylase, and tryptophan side chain oxidases.

Growth hormones of the cytokinin family can also be synthesized by enzymes expressed in the BEMD system. Examples of cytokinins include kinetin, zeatin (cis and trans), 6-benzylaminopurine, dihydroxyzeatin, N6-(D2-isopentenyl) adenine, ribosylzeatin, N6-(D2-isopentenyl) adenosine, 2 methylthio-cis-ribosylzeatin, cis ribosylzeatin, ribosylzeatin-5-monosphosphate, N6-methylaminopurine, N6-dimethylaminopurine, 2′-deoxyzeatin riboside, 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-trans-2-butenylaminopurine, ortho-topolin, meta-topolin, benzyladenine, ortho-methyltopolin, and meta-methyltopolin. These plant growth stimulating compounds are synthesized in vivo from mevalonate or adenosine mono/di/triphosphate by enzymes including adenosine phosphate isopentenyltransferases, phosphatases, adenosine kinases, adenine phosphoribosyltransferase, CYP735A, 5′ ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, adenosine nucleosidases, zeatin cis-trans isomerase, zeatin O-glucosyltransferases, β-glucosidases, cis-hydroxylases, CK cis-hydroxylases, CK N-glucosyltransferases, 2,5-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolases, adenosine nucleosidases, purine nucleoside phosphorylases, and zeatin reductases.

Using methods similar to those described above in Example 1, any of these enzymes can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores by creating a fusion construct comprising the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the expressed enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. A recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing such a construct can then be added to the soil or other plant growth medium or applied directly to plant foliage using methods similar to those described above in Example 1 for stimulation of plant growth.

The plant growth medium can be supplemented with precursors or substrates for the enzymes. For example, the plant growth medium can be supplemented with tryptophan, adenosine monophosphates, adenosine diphosphates, adenosine triphosphates, or indole. Suitable concentrations of these substrates are between 100 nM and 100 μM.

Example 6. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Proteases or Peptidases that Cleave Proteins or Peptides into Bioactive Peptides for Stimulation of Plant Growth

Proteases and peptidases can be expressed in the BEMD system that can enzymatically cleave available proteins in the plant growth media to bioactive peptides that can act on the plant directly or indirectly. Examples include the enzymatic cleavage of soybean meal, yeast extract, or other protein rich meals added to the plant growth medium into active peptides that can directly stimulate plant growth. Bioactive peptides generated by enzymatic cleavage of protein meals include RHPP and RKN 16D10, potent stimulators of plant root development.

Using methods similar to those described above in Example 1, any of these proteases and peptidases can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores by creating a fusion construct comprising the protease or peptidase and a targeting sequence that targets the expressed enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. A recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing such a construct can then be added to soil or other plant growth medium supplemented with soybean meal, yeast extract, or another-protein-rich meal for stimulation of plant growth. The soybean meal, yeast extract, or other protein-rich meal is suitably added to the plant growth medium in the form of a liquid composition comprising about 10 μg/L to about 100 mg/L of the protein meal, yeast extract, or other protein-rich meal.

Example 7. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Proteins or Peptides Involved in the Stimulation of Plant Growth

The BEMD system can also be used to display proteins or peptides that are directly involved in the promotion of plant growth. For example, plant peptide hormones or non-hormone peptides that stimulate plant growth can be expressed in the BEMD system. For example, non-hormone peptides that directly bind to and active plant receptors can be expressed in the BEMD system to directly act on receptors in the plant and roots of target plants. Such peptide hormones and bioactive peptides include phytosulfokine, calcalva 3 (CLV3), systemin, RKN 16D10, Hg-Syv46, eNOD40, Zm1GF, SCR/SP11 family proteins and peptides, RHPP, and KTI (kunitz trypsin inhibitor). These peptides and related peptides can be expressed in the BEMD system and delivered to plant growth medium or directly applied to foliage to stimulate plant growth.

Using methods similar to those described above in Example 1, any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores by creating a fusion construct comprising the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the expressed enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. A recombinant Bacillus cereus family member expressing such a construct can then be added to the soil or other plant growth medium or applied directly to plant foliage using methods similar to those described above in Example 1 for stimulation of plant growth.

Example 8. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Enzymes that Degrade or Modify a Bacterial, Fungal, or Plant Nutrient Source to Stimulate Plant Growth

The BEMD system can also be used display enzymes that degrade or modify beneficially a bacterial, fungal, or plant nutrient source present in soil or another plant growth medium. Such enzymes degrade products present in the soil or other plant growth medium into forms that can easily be taken up by plants and/or the beneficial bacteria and/or fungi of the rhizosphere. Such enzymes include, for example, glucoside hydrolases to degrade complex carbohydrates, cellulases to degrade cellulose; lipases to degrade lipids, including oil, fats, and waxes; lignin oxidases to degrade down lignin and humic acids; and proteases to degrade polypeptides. The resultant products, including simple sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, and other nutrients will be readily available for direct uptake by plants and/or for stimulating beneficial bacteria and/or fungi to grow and thrive in the rhizospheres of the plants.

In addition, enzymes and other biological molecules can be utilized to release or sequester phosphate, nitrogen, and other key elemental nutrients for plant uptake from their various organic and inorganic forms in soil. For example, phosphatases can be used to degrade phosphates in the environment into usable inorganic phosphates for plant use. The phosphates can be naturally occurring phosphates present in a plant growth medium. Alternatively, the plant growth medium can be supplemented with phosphates such as trimetaphosphate, a common agricultural amendment. Examples of useful phosphatases include phosphoric monoester hydrolases, phosphomonoesterases, phosphoric diester hydrolases, phosphodiesterases, triphosphoric monoester hydrolases, phosphoryl anhydride hydrolases, pyrophosphatases, phytase, trimetaphosphatases, and triphosphatases. For example, the enzymes trimetaphosphatase, triphosphatase, and pyrophosphatase sequentially break down trimetaphosphate into usable inorganic phosphate.

The nitrogenase family of enzymes convert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia, thereby converting nitrogen that would otherwise be unaccessible to plants into a usable form. Suitable enzymes belong to the Nif family of nitrogenases.

Chemical energy can also be directly added into the plant growth medium as adenosine-3-triphosphate, ferrodoxin, or additional enzymes that create such energy into the BEMD system. These are cofactors for the nitrogenases and are limited in soil. Thus, such cofactors can be added to soil to enhance the reactions described above.

Using methods similar to those described above in Example 1, any of these enzymes can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores by creating a fusion construct comprising the enzyme and a targeting sequence for targeting the fusion construct to the exosporium of a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct can then be expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and this recombinant Bacillus cereus family member can be added to soil or another plant growth medium using methods similar to those described above in Example 1 for stimulation of plant growth.

Example 9. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Enzymes Involved in the Synthesis of 2,3-Butanediol for Stimulation of Plant Growth

The BEMD system can also be used display enzymes involved in the synthesis of the plant growth promoting compound 2,3-butanediol. In vivo, 2,3-butanediol is synthesized by beneficial bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere from acetoin, diacetyl, acetolactate, or pyruvate by the enzymes acetolactate synthetase, α-acetolactate decarboxylase, pyruvate decarboxylase, diacetyl reductase, butanediol dehydrogenases, and acetoin reductase.

Any of these enzymes can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium for stimulation of plant growth.

To increase the effect of the enzymes displayed on BEMD, the soil can be supplemented with substrates for the enzymes. For example, the soil can be supplemented with acetoin, which is a substrate for acetoin reductase; pyruvate, which is a substrate for pyruvate decarboxylase; diacetyl, which is a substrate for diacetyl reductase; and/or acetolactate, which is a substrate for acetolactate decarboxylase.

Example 10. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Proteases for Protecting Plants from Pathogens

The BEMD system can also be used display proteases that protect plants from one or more pathogens. For example, certain bacterial pathogens can communicate between individual members via secretion of bacterial lactone homoserines or related signaling molecules. Thus, proteases specific for bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecules can protect plants from such bacterial pathogens by disrupting communication between bacteria, a step essential for the bacteria to secrete toxins and upregulate virulence factors. Suitable proteases specific for bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecules include endopeptidases and exopeptidases.

Proteases specific for bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecules can be incorporated into the BEMD system using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the protease and a targeting sequence that targets the protease to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium. The protease can then degrade the bacterial lactone homoserine signaling molecules, blocking a key step in the virulence of these organisms and thereby helping to protect the plant from these pathogens.

Example 11. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Antimicrobial Proteins and Peptides for Protecting Plants from Pathogens

The BEMD system can also be used display enzymes that exhibit antibacterial and/or antifungal activities that can help protect plants from one or more pathogens. For example, antibacterial proteins such as bacteriocins, lysozymes, siderophores, avidins, streptavidins, conalbumin, albumin, and lactoferrin can all be expressed in the BEMD system to exert their effect on bacterial and fungal pathogens of plants. Bacteriocins, albumin, conalbumin, lysozymes, and lactoferrin exert direct antimicrobial action on their targets, whereas siderophores, avidins, streptavidins bind essential nutrients that pathogens require for virulence. For example, the peptide lactoferrin, when expressed on the surface of the BEMD system would lyse bacteria cells that are susceptible to the lactoferrin peptides in the plant growth medium. These proteins and peptides have specific action on select microbes, and can selectively target a group of pathogens without obstructing all microbes in the plant growth medium.

Any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium for protection of plants from one or more pathogens.

Example 12. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Enzymes for Protecting Plants from Pathogens

The BEMD system can also be used display enzymes that protect plants from one or more pathogens. For example, yeast and mold cell walls are degraded by enzymes such as β-1,3-glucanases, β-1,4-glucanases, β-1,6-glucanases, chitosinases, chitinases, chitosinase-like proteins, and lyticases. Bacteria cell walls are degraded by enzymes selected from proteinases, proteases, mutanolysin, stapholysin, and lysozymes. Each of these cell wall degrading enzymes can be expressed on the BEMD system and added to plant growth medium for selective inhibition of pathogenic microbes in the rhizosphere.

Any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium for protection of plants from pathogens.

Example 13. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying Plant Immune System Stimulatory Peptides or Proteins for Protecting Plants from Pathogens

The BEMD system can also be used display plant immune system enhancer peptides and proteins. These proteins can be expressed on the outside of the BEMD spore and delivered into the plant growth medium to stimulate the plant immune system to allow the plant to protect itself from plant pathogens. Example proteins and peptides include harpin, α-elastins, β-elastins, cryptogein, and flagellin proteins and peptides. Exposure of plants to these proteins and peptides will stimulate resistance to many plant pathogens in plants.

Any of these proteins or peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system for display on BEMD spores using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the enzyme and a targeting sequence that targets the enzyme to the exosporium when the fusion construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member, and the Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium for protection of plants from pathogens.

Example 14. Use of Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Members Displaying a Root Binding Protein or Peptide to Immobilize the Recombinant Bacillus cereus Family Member on a Root System of a Plant

Root binding proteins and peptides can also be incorporated into the BEMD system to allow the BEMD spores to be immobilized on a root system of a plant. Display of such root binding ligands on the BEMD spores allows for targeting of the spores to the root system of a plant or to substructures of the root system to maintain the BEMD spores at an optimal location for other displayed biological molecules and enzymes to be effective.

For example, rhicadhesin is a root binding ligand that binds to root hairs. Thus, display of rhicadhesin on the BEMD spores thus targets the spores to root hairs. Additional proteins that could be utilized for selective binding to plants include adhesins, falgellin, omptins, lectins, pili proteins, curlus proteins, intimins, invasins, agglutinin, and afimbrial proteins.

Such root binding proteins and peptides can be incorporated into the BEMD system using methods similar to those described above in Example 1. A fusion construct can be prepared that comprises the root binding protein or peptide and a targeting sequence that targets the protein or peptide to the exosporium when the construct is expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. The fusion construct containing the root binding ligand is then expressed in a Bacillus cereus family member. Such fusion constructs can be coexpressed with one or more additional fusion constructs comprising any of the beneficial enzymes discussed herein (e.g., an enzyme involved in the synthesis of a plant hormone, an enzyme that degrades a nutrient source, or a proteases that protects a plant from a pathogen). The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member is added to soil or another plant growth medium. The root binding ligand targets the Bacillus cereus family member to the root system of the plant and immobilizes it there, thus allowing the coexpressed fusion construct to exert its effects in close proximity to the root system.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above fusion proteins, Bacillus cereus family members, formulations, and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A recombinant Bacillus cereus family member that expresses a fusion protein, wherein the fusion protein comprises: a targeting sequence or exosporium protein that is capable of targeting the fusion protein to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member; and at least one plant growth stimulating protein or peptide, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a chitosanase, a protease, a phosphatase, a nitrogenase, a nuclease, a glucosidase, a flagellin protein, or a flagellin peptide.
 2. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein comprises a targeting sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least 54%.
 3. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein comprises a targeting sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 50% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least 63%.
 4. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein comprises a targeting sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 62% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least 72%.
 5. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein comprises a targeting sequence comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 81% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least 90%.
 6. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the targeting sequence consists of: (a) a 16 amino acid sequence having at least 43% identity with amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the identity with amino acids 25-35 is at least 54%; (b) amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; or (d) SEQ ID NO:
 1. 7. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the fusion protein comprises: (a) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (b) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 20-35 of SEQ ID NO: 1; (c) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 1; (d) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 2; (e) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3; (f) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 3; (g) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 3; (h) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 4; (i) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (j) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 23-38 of SEQ ID NO: 5; (k) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 5; (l) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 6; (m) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7; (n) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 13-28 of SEQ ID NO: 7; (o) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7; (p) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 8; (q) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9; (r) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 9; (s) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 9; (t) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 10; (u) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 11; (v) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 11; (w) a targeting sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 11; (x) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 12; (y) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13; (z) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 13; (aa) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 13; (ab) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 14; (ac) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15; (ad) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 28-43 of SEQ ID NO: 15; (ae) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 15; (af) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 16; (ag) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17; (ah) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 12-27 of SEQ ID NO: 17; (ai) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 17; (aj) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 18; (ak) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19; (al) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 19; (am) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 19; (an) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 20; (ao) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21; (ap) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 21; aq) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 21; (ar) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 22; (as) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23; (at) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 23; (au) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 23; (av) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 24; (aw) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25; (ax) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 25; (ay) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 25; (az) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 26; (ba) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27; (bb) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 15-30 of SEQ ID NO: 27; (bc) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 27; (bd) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 28; (be) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29; (bf) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 18-33 of SEQ ID NO: 29; (bg) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 29; (bh) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 30; (bi) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31; (bj) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 9-24 of SEQ ID NO: 31; (bk) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 31; (bl) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 32; (bm) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-15 of SEQ ID NO: 33; (bn) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 33; (bo) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO: 34; (bp) a targeting sequence comprising amino acids 1-16 of SEQ ID NO: 35; (bq) a targeting sequence comprising amino SEQ ID NO: 35; or (br) an exosporium protein comprising SEQ ID NO:
 36. 8. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the targeting sequence comprises the amino acid sequence GXT at its carboxy terminus, wherein X is any amino acid.
 9. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a protease selected from the group consisting of subtilisin, an acid protease, an alkaline protease, a proteinase, a peptidase, an endopeptidase, an exopeptidase, a thermolysin, a papain, a pepsin, a trypsin, a pronase, a carboxylase, a serine protease, a glutamic protease, an aspartate protease, a cysteine protease, a threonine protease, or a metalloprotease.
 10. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a phosphatase selected from the group consisting of a phosphoric monoester hydrolase, a phosphomonoesterase, a phosphoric diester hydrolase, a phosphodiesterase, a triphosphoric monoester hydrolase, a phosphoryl anhydride hydrolase, a pyrophosphatase, a phytase, a trimetaphosphatase, or a triphosphatase.
 11. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a flagellin protein or a flagellin peptide.
 12. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide comprises a chitosanase.
 13. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member comprises Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pseudomycoides, Bacillus weihenstephensis, or a combination thereof.
 14. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 13, wherein the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member comprises Bacillus thuringiensis.
 15. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the plant growth stimulating protein or peptide is physically attached to the exosporium of the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member.
 16. The recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, wherein the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member is inactivated.
 17. A formulation comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 and an agriculturally acceptable carrier.
 18. A method for stimulating plant growth comprising: introducing the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 or a formulation comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 and an agriculturally acceptable carrier into a plant growth medium; or applying the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1 or a formulation comprising the recombinant Bacillus cereus family member of claim 1, and an agriculturally acceptable carrier to foliage of a plant, a plant seed, or an area surrounding a plant. 